It’s been a great year for Virginia wrestling. 

At the NHSCA Senior Nationals, three Virginia wrestlers brought home national championships, while two more wrestlers won national championships at the NWCA/USA Wrestling National High School Open and three schoolboy wrestlers won folkstyle championships at the USA Wrestling Kids Folkstyle nationals in Topeka, Kansas…and that was in ONE day.

May 17-19 in Norfolk, Va. Virginia looks to again capitalize on building its continued success at the 2^nd Virginia Challenge Middle School National Open Wrestling Championships to be held at the Norfolk Scope in downtown Norfolk.

“This is a call to arms.  This is a challenge to all middle school wrestlers in Virginia to go against the very best,” Virginia Challenge Executive Director Frank Lipoli said.

“We’re excited that the nationals will be held in Norfolk Scope, an arena with a proud history.  The Virginia Squires of the ABA played games here, the Hampton Roads Admirals won three championships there, not to mention former amateur wrestlers Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar have made appearances at Scope with the World Wrestling Federation.  It’s going to be a really exciting weekend and we’re glad to be at Scope,” Lipoli said.

Last year’s the event garnered 650 entries from 22 states in its inaugural year.

“We can showcase the best middle school wrestlers in the country at this event,” Lipoli said.

Lipoli isn’t just going to rest on the laurels about bringing the event to Virginia.

“It’s Virginia against the U.S.  Our hope is that Virginia will win both divisions, and defending their 7-8 division national team championship,” Lipoli said.

Other events around the area during the weekend will also be in conjunction with the Middle School National Open Championships.

The Virginia Challenge and the Norfolk Convention’s and Visitor’s Bureau are working to co-ordinate with other events in the area, including a free concert at Town Point Park, less than a mile from Scope, and wrestlers will be recognized.  The Stocklee Gardens Art Festival is also in town, one of the east coast’s top arts festivals.

“These events, together with the national championships will make for an overall experience for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and for the national class athlete.  Fun for everyone is the theme for the weekend…plus kick-butt wrestling,” Lipoli said.

“The Virginia Challenge has reached national acclaim for our customer service, and this weekend will again follow in the Virginia Challenge tradition,” Lipoli said.

This will also be the first event that’s sanctioned by USA Wrestling by the Virginia Challenge.  USA Wrestling is the national governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling.

“I think this is one of the biggest things that’s happened to us (as an organization.  This will give us a chance to come aboard with USA wrestling.  They are the deal when it comes with national wrestling.  Its something they haven’t done before, this type of tournament, and maybe it will open up some doors for both of us,” said Virginia Challenge Vice President Bill Pittman.

“We’re the luckiest people in the world to have Norfolk to work with.  We’re just as happy as they are to be working with them as they are with us.”

“It’s going to be good for us anyway you look at it.  I think any organization that’s already established that we’re tying into is great,” said Virginia Challenge President Colon Baker.

“We want growth overall from what we had before, and we hope this event is a big enough success that everyone will go home and talk about it and be ready to come back in the following years.”

“With Norfolk plugging away, it will help get people back into town for coming events,” Baker said.  

“Again, to all wrestlers in Virginia, this is a call to arms.  As Terry Brands has said many times, ‘It’s time to train like a madman,” Lipoli said.

Virginia Challenge Website
Tournament Flyer/Entry Form
USA Wrestling Press-Release on the 2^nd Virginia Challenge Middle School Open National Championships