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Experience the Battle of Waterloo

Whether you’re a participating team or a wrestling fan, you’re in for an amazing experience at the Battle of Waterloo.

December 16 & 17, 2022

The 12th annual dual wrestling meet featuring a 32-team bracket and a 16-team girls bracket will take place at Young Arena in Waterloo.
Tickets can be purchased online for $8 per session (plus $1 handling fee) or $10 at the door. There will be two sessions on Friday and two sessions on Saturday.

Click here to purchase tickets online

Or, scan our QR Code below!

The Battle of Waterloo is Iowa’s premier high school wrestling tournament featuring some of the state’s most elite wrestlers.

Take in two days of exceptional wrestling matches with 8 mats of action!
Be part of the electrifying crowd, cheer on state-ranked teams and wrestlers, and enjoy a 3,000-seat venue that offers great views of the competition, along with concessions, amenities, and a fun atmosphere.

2022 Battle of Waterloo Bracket
The 2022 bracket will be published the Sunday prior to the tournament.

Battle of Waterloo Merchandise
Commemorate your trip to the battle with 2022 Battle of Waterloo apparel, which will be available at the tournament venue.

Last Year’s Battle of Waterloo Bracket

YOUNG ARENA, 125 Commercial Street, Waterloo, Iowa 50701

Young Arena opened in 1994, operating as part of the City of Waterloo Leisure Services Department. In addition to serving as an ice rink for the U.S. Hockey League’s Waterloo Black Hawks, high school and youth hockey teams, and figure skating clubs, it offers public skating, ice skating lessons, and recreational hockey leagues.

The arena also hosts many notable wrestling tournaments and championships, including the Battle of Waterloo.

Map

Before You Go

Arena Layout & Parking Maps
Familiarize yourself with the Young Arena layout and parking options. A printable parking map highlights eight parking areas for arena events, along with spots that parking is not allowed.

Where to Stay
A variety of lodging options are available in Waterloo, including several hotels near Young Arena. Book your stay and learn more about Waterloo tourism here.

Where to Eat
Young Arena will be selling concessions during the Battle of Waterloo.

In between matches, satisfy your taste buds at one of Waterloo’s 70-plus locally owned restaurants. You’ll find whatever you’re craving, from burgers to pizza to sushi to soul food. Get a glimpse of your options at Experience Waterloo.

Printable Parking Map

Can’t Attend? Watch Online!

If you can’t make it to Young Arena, you can experience the Battle of Waterloo from the comfort of your home. IAWrestle will live stream all matches for a $15 fee. Click here for information.

Watch Online

FAQs

How elite are the wrestlers who participate in the Battle of Waterloo?

The Battle of Waterloo is the No. 1 dual meet in the state, bringing Iowa’s best high school teams together for an exciting competition each year. In the 2019 event, 15 of the 32 teams were ranked in the Top 10 in the IAWrestle Rankings, with 121 ranked individual wrestlers in the field, including 19 No. 1-ranked wrestlers. Many Battle of Waterloo wrestlers go on the IHSAA’s State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines. For example, the 2020 state championships included 153 Battle of Waterloo participants with 94 state place winners, 34 state finalists and 15 state champions. All three state championship teams – 1A, 2A, and 3A – wrestled in the Battle of Waterloo. As we like to say, the road to the state championships runs right through the Battle of Waterloo!

What is the format of the Battle of Waterloo?

It is a two-day dual meet. On Day 1, teams are seeded and placed in one of four standard eight-team brackets. Two of these brackets compete in a morning session and two compete in an evening session. Those matches determine each team’s place in Day 2’s round-robin championship brackets. Each of the four qualifying teams will compete in a Division 1 group to determine 1-4 positions. The four runner-up teams from the first day will compete in Division 2 for 5-8 positions, and so on. Groups 5-8 wrestle in the morning, with groups 1-4 competing in the afternoon.

What Is the format of the Battle of Waterloo Girls Division

The 16 girls teams will be seeded into two standard eight-team brackets with one bracket competing in the Friday morning session and one bracket competing in the Friday evening bracket.  On day two the girls teams will be placed into four 4-team pools and have two matches in pool play with the 7th and 8th teams, the 5th and 6th teams, and the 3rd and 4th teams from Friday’s brackets competing in the Saturday morning session.  The 1st and 2nd place teams will compete in two duals in their 4-team  pool.

How are the teams seeded?

The Battle of Waterloo seeding committee meets on the Sunday prior to the tournament and reviews current rankings and records to seed the tournament.

When will the brackets be out?

Tournament brackets are released the Sunday before the tournament after the seeding committee meets to seed the tournament. We will post the brackets on this website and on our Facebook page.

How do I buy tickets for the wrestling tournament?

Tickets can be purchased online for $8 per session (plus $1 handling fee) or $10 at the door.  There will be two sessions on Friday and two sessions on Saturday.  Online tickets will be available starting on Monday, December 12 at the link below.

How do I get to the venue?

Young Arena is the venue for Battle of Waterloo, located at 125 Commercial Street in Waterloo. Click here for a map and more information about the venue, including parking options.

Can I watch the Battle of Waterloo matches online?

Yes, live streaming of all eight mats is available through IAWrestle for $15 at this link: iawrestle.com

How are the Battle of Waterloo Hall of Fame inductees selected?

The Battle of Waterloo tournament committee reviews potential candidates that wrestled for a Waterloo high school and alumni or community members who have made a positive impact on the sport of wrestling in Waterloo. The committee also accepts nominations for consideration.

How do I buy tickets for the Hall of Fame reception?

No tickets are necessary! The Hall of Fame reception takes place at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Dan Gable Museum and is open to the public at no charge.

What else can our family do in Waterloo while we’re here for the tournament?

Waterloo, Iowa is a beautiful city with plenty of cultural attractions, recreation, entertainment, and locally owned restaurants. Of course, one attraction that is a can’t miss for wrestling families is the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Dan Gable Museum, where we hold our Hall of Fame reception. If you still have last-minute Christmas gifts to buy, you’ll love shopping in downtown Waterloo and taking in the city’s holiday festivities. Click here for more tourist information from Experience Waterloo.

Battle of Waterloo

2022 Tournament: December 16 – 17

Hall of Fame Reception

Thursday, December 15th

5-7 p.m.

National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Dan Gable Museum
 

303 Jefferson ST. Waterloo, Iowa 50701