2019 AAU Wrestling Winter Nationals

OMAHA, Neb (January 4, 2019) - This weekend, the first leg of AAU Wrestling’s national event season kicks off at the Raltson Arena in Nebraska with the 2019 AAU Winter Nationals. Last year's event featured more than 1100 wrestlers from across the country.
 
"Each year we attract top wrestlers from farther and farther away." said Daniel Vacha, Director of the AAU Winter Nationals. "We had 1100 wrestlers in 2018. The changes to weigh-in time and addition to two mats will be huge."  
 
This year's event will feature one big change, "THE CHAIN."
 
“I wanted to be on the cutting edge of something new and great." Vacha continued. "So now, we are no longer "Battling for the Belt," it’s "Challenging for the Chain."
 
Another change to this year will be the addition of two (2) mats as well as Friday weigh-ins. Saturday morning weigh-ins will be available from 6-7AM
 
“We had more 32 and 64 man brackets than ever." Vacha added. "This is both good and bad.  It made it a very long day for most wrestlers who go up at 5:00AM to get weighed in, just to have to sit a while to see the mat.  We corrected this on may levels moving forward into this year."
 
Wrestling will now get underway at 9:00AM on Saturday instead of 12:30PM. Also, spectators and participants can expect to wrestle the first two (2) rounds of all brackets.
 
“This allows those parents whose wrestler is in a smaller bracket to either get out of there early on Saturday or if, in a Round Robin, you won't have come back on Sunday for just one match.” stated Vacha.
 
There will be two wrestlers looking to set Winter Nationals history by becoming eight-time champions.

DJ Bonam and Kyler Lauridsen have won seven (7) straight with names like Kael Lauridsen (5), Gable Porter (3), Navarro Schunke (6), Ignacio Villasenor (4) and Draven Woods (3) all looking to add to their legacy at Winter Nationals.
 
Twenty-five (25) belt winners have already pre-registered to defend their titles this weekend.
 
"Winter Nationals has made the leap from a larger local tournament to a true national tournament. This year's wrestlers on the mat will 100% contest to that."
 
Wrestlers can register online through Trackwrestling.
 
More information:
• Chains for Champions of each weight class
• Trophies for 2nd and 3rd place in each weight class
• Medals for the top 6 places in each weight class
• Team Awards Presented
• Awards immediately after completion of bracket

TEAM AWARDS
• Class A: 18 or More (Score only the top 18)
• Class B: 13-17 Wrestlers (Score only the top 13)
• Class C: 8-12 Wrestlers (Score only the top 8)
 
Entry Fee:
• Individual Entry Fee: $45 (Must be paid on- line at TrackWrestling.com)
• T-shirt and Stocking cap (beenie) given to all wrestlers.
• All athletes must have a current AAU Card and birth certificate at weigh-ins.
• Must be registered by Friday, January 4th 2019 @ Noon
• Late registration = add’l $20 if tournament limit not met
• Final cut-off at the end of weigh-ins or 1200 wrestlers.
• FREE weight class bump up or down.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, January 4th:
 
11:59 am – Online registration closes at
6-9:00 pm – Weigh-ins:   (all wrestlers get .9lbs allotment)
6-9:00 pm – Ticket booth opens  to prepurchase admission
6-9:00pm – Coaches passes can be purchased or picked up is purchased online
 
***** ALL wrestlers need to have AAU Membership Card in order to weigh in
*****Please have a copy of birth certificate available (will only check if age is challenged)
*****Coaches will need to show Non-athletic AAU card in order to get a Coaches/Floor pass
 
Saturday, January 5th:
 
6:00 am – Doors Open
6-7:00 am – Weigh-ins (1 hour only)
8:00 am – Floor open for warm-up time
8:45 am – All wrestlers report to weigh in area for Parade of States
8:45 am – All Coaches report to Coaches Band Purchase area for Coaches meeting
9:00 am – Parade of states starts
9:30 am – Wrestling begins.
 
Will wrestle at least two rounds, ALL 3 and 4 Round Robins, ALL Girl Brackets
 
Sunday, January 6th:
 
7:30 am – Doors Open
8:00 am – Floor Opens for warm-ups
9:00 am – Wrestling Starts
11:00 am – Awards area opens for awards for completed brackets
 
STANDARD AAU DIVISIONS
ALL WRESTLERS GET A .9 (Nine Tenths) POUND SCALE ALLOTMENT
Tots Weight Classes (6 & Under) 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 & HWT (75 lb Max)
Bantam Weight Classes (7 & 8) 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 90 & HWT (125 lb Max)
Midget Weight Classes  (9 & 10) 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 103, 112, 120, 130, & HWT (175 lb Max)
Novice Weight Classes (11 & 12) 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 112, 120, 130, 140 & HWT (205 lb Max)
School Boy/Girl (No High School wrestlers 13-15) 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 140, 150, 160, 180 & HWT (260 lb Max)