Important Notes

• Once a wrestler places at a Regional Championships event or competes in the MSWA State Championships, they are no longer eligible to compete in the Future Champions Series or the Futures Finale. This series is designed for beginner and intermediate wrestlers only. The MSWA State Championships are considered advanced.

• Check your league schedule before registering. If you register but cannot attend, no transfers, credits, or refunds will be issued.

• Ensure you register for the correct event. Some Future Champions events may occur the same weekend and location as a Youth State Qualifier but on a different day.

• All athletes must cut their fingernails.

• All matches are 1:00-1:00-1:00

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Weigh-In & Start Times

• Age Group | Birth Years | Weigh-In Time | Approx. Start Time

• 6 & Under | 2020–2021 | 7:30–8:30 AM | ~30 minutes after weigh-ins end

• 8 & Under | 2018–2019 | 7:30–8:30 AM | ~30 minutes after weigh-ins end

• 10 & Under | 2016–2017 | 10:00–11:00 AM | ~30 minutes after weigh-ins end or 30 minutes after the end of the first session (whichever is later)

• 12 & Under | 2014–2015 | 10:00–11:00 AM | See above

• 14 & Under | 2012–2013 | 10:00–11:00 AM | See above

• Birth year takes precedence over Age Group for placing athletes into a wrestling group. Age groups may be combined based on registration at the discretion of the tournament director.

Registration & Admission

• Event Fee: $30 online only — no walk-in registrations.

• Admission:

• Current USAW Leaders: Free (must show current membership card and picture ID if no verifiable picture is on the USAW leadership card)

• Adults (18+): $10

• Ages 6–17: $5

• Ages 5 & Under: Free

Online Registration Policies

• All registrations are non-refundable.

• Check your schedule before registering.

• If an event is cancelled, a credit will be issued toward a future MSWA event.

• All events have registration limitations based on facilities, mats, and our desire to have them run smoothly. We recommend that all wrestlers register early – Future Champions events sell out!

USA Wrestling Membership Requirements
All wrestlers must have a current USAW Membership.
Acceptable membership types include:

• Limited Folkstyle Athlete 

• Full Athlete

• High Performance Athlete

Memberships expire annually on August 31.
Reminder: Limited Folkstyle Athlete memberships are not valid for the spring and summer Freestyle and Greco-Roman events.

Coaches

• Coaches and parents receive free entry for every MSWA event when they provide a State ID and USAW Leader Card at the door! This includes the Maryland Girls Wrestling Series, Future Champions, the Futures Finale, Regional Championships, and the MSWA State Championship. 

• Coaches are highly encouraged to have a current USAW wrestling leader card and at least a Copper Certification throughout the season. USA Wrestling coaching certifications are valid for life. We highly encourage coaches and die-hard parents to get certified. Like previous years, for Futures Finale event given its size, certified coaching bands (Copper or Bronze) will be required to be in the corner for your athlete. 

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Modified NFHS Rules
Tournaments follow National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) scoring rules with USA Wrestling modifications, including:

• Headgear: Mandatory for all competitors.

• Mouthguards: Mandatory for wrestlers with braces.

• Rest Period: Minimum of 15 minutes between matches.

• Matches cannot begin without a coach present.

• The three-quarter nelson with leg hook is legal in USAW Folkstyle events.

• The double arm bar with sit-out is considered potentially dangerous and the official will stop the action.

• USA Wrestling age, weight, and match-time rules take precedence where applicable.