State Duals wrestling tournament moving from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines

The Iowa High School Athletic Association Board of Control met Wednesday and approved to move the State Duals tournament to the Wednesday following district competition with the traditional state meet, beginning the following day and concluding Saturday.

The changes will be effective for the 2011-12 season, ending a relationship with the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids that dates back to 1994.

The release states, “The Board of Control of the Athletic Association wants to thank the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids where the State Dual Team Wrestling Tournament was since 1994. They were excellent hosts for 17 years and their hospitality was second-to-none.

“While the Cellular Center is not available for the 2012 dual team tournament due to renovations, that is not the primary reason for the change. Changing the individual state tournament to a three-day format allows the state duals to be wrestled on eight mats in Wells Fargo Arena.”

According to the news release, the State Duals tournament averaged 5,200 fans in attendance in the 25 years of its existence.

The traditional state tournament, held at Wells Fargo Arena since 2006, was a three-day event before changing to a four-day format in 2003 while Veterans Auditorium, the old host venue across the street from Wells Fargo Arena, underwent renovations.