General Information

The 2026 Youth New England Wrestling (YNEW) Championships will be held at Game On Sportsplex in Fitchburg MA on SAT March 14th and SUN March 15th.

 

The 2026 Youth New Englands will feature both a GIRLS Competition and an OPEN (Co-Ed) Competition. There will be three age groups in the GIRLS Competition (10U/12U/15U) and four age groups in the OPEN Competition (8U/10U/12U/15U). 

 

A STRICT one-pound allowance will be added to each weight class limit during  weigh-ins.  For all of the 2026 YNEW weight and age requirements, go to YNEW Weights & Ages.

 

Weigh-ins for all age groups will be held in Fitchburg MA. You can weigh in the day before your competition or the day of your competition.  See the Weigh-In Schedule/Information below for more details.

 

The recommended hotels for YNEW 2026 are the Colonial Hotel in Gardner (HOST HOTEL), the Devens Springhill Suites, and the Devens Hilton Garden Inn. Please reserve your hotel rooms EARLY in order to secure a discounted room rate (ask for the Youth New Englands room block).  See the Hotel Options below for more information.

 

YNEW 2026 Registration OPENS on FEB 9th (8U/10U Age Groups) and FEB 16th (12U/15U Age Groups) You can register online ($68) at YNEW Registration right after your state tournament is completed. 

 

In order to compete in YNEW 2026, you MUST REGISTER by LAST CHANCE MONDAY- March 9th. There are absolutely NO LATE CHANGES after Monday March 9th (no exceptions!).

 

LAST CHANCE MONDAY is your last chance to: Register for YNEW 2026; Change Weight Class; or Change Team Affiliation. Go to the YNEW Registration Page for more information. 

 

 

This year’s YNEW competition will feature double elimination in larger brackets and round-robin competition in smaller brackets. See Individual Competition below for more details.

 

A coach’s pass may be purchased for one day ($25) or both days ($40). Only those with a coach’s pass will be allowed entry into the competition area. The competition area is restricted to wrestlers and coaches who are actively competing on the mat.  On-deck competitors/coaches may use the warm-up area outside the competition area until their match is called.

 

Spectators may purchase admission passes for one day ($15) or two days ($25). Passes for spectators and coaches may be pre-purchased during day-before weigh-ins.

 

NOTE: Game On charges an onsite parking fee. Coolers and carry-in food/drink are NOT allowed inside Game On facility. See Game On Fitchburg for more information.

YNEW 2026 Weekend Schedule

FRIDAY March 13th Weigh-Ins: Game On Fitchburg (5-8 PM)

NOTE: No FRIDAY Weigh In for SUNDAY competitors; ALL Wrestlers MUST Weigh In Wearing Their Uniform 

EXCEPTION: Girl Wrestlers Who Compete in BOTH Girls & Open Competitions Only Need to Weigh In Once

SATURDAY Morning March 14th: 8U/10U OPEN Competition @ Game On (Weigh-Ins 7-8 AM; Competition 8:45AM – 2PM)

SATURDAY Afternoon March 14th: 12U OPEN & 15U GIRLS Competition @ Game On (Weigh-Ins 12-1 PM; Competition 2-8 PM)

SATURDAY March 14th: Day-Before Weigh Ins for Sunday Competition @ Monty Tech HS (3-5 PM)

NOTE: Monty Tech HS is one mile from the Game On Sportsplex in Fitchburg MA 

SUNDAY March 15th: 10U/12U GIRLS & 15U OPEN Competition @ Game On (Weigh-Ins 7-8 AM; Competition 8:45AM – 4PM)

FRI March 13th

5-8pm:

YNEW Early WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg

SATURDAY Competitors ONLY

8U/10U/12U OPEN & 15U GIRLS

(see Weigh-In Information below for details)

SAT March 14th

7-8am:

YNEW WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg

SAT MORNING Competitors ONLY

8U/10U OPEN  

(see Weigh-In Information below for details)

8:45am-2pm:

YNEW SAT MORNING @ GAME ON Fitchburg

8U/10U OPEN Competition

SAT Morning Flight

12-1pm:

YNEW WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg

SAT AFTERNOON Competitors ONLY

12U OPEN & 15U GIRLS  

(see Weigh-In Information below for details)

1-2pm:

YNEW Medal Round & Awards @ GAME ON Fitchburg

Outstanding & Most Dominant Wrestlers

SAT Morning Flight (8U/10U OPEN)

2-8pm:

YNEW SAT AFTERNOON @ GAME ON Fitchburg

12U OPEN & 15U GIRLS Competition

SAT Afternoon Flight

3-5pm:

YNEW Early WEIGH IN @ MONTY TECH HS

SUNDAY Competitors ONLY

10U/12U GIRLS & 15U OPEN  

(see Weigh-In Information below for details) 

6-8pm:

YNEW Medal Round & Awards @ GAME ON Fitchburg

Outstanding & Most Dominant Wrestlers

SAT Afternoon Flight (12U OPEN & 15U GIRLS)

Elena Award

SUN March 15th

7-8am:

YNEW WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg

SUNDAY competitors ONLY

10/12U GIRLS & 15U OPEN (CO-ED)

(see Weigh-In Information below for details)

8:45am-4pm:

YNEW SUNDAY @ GAME ON Fitchburg

10/12U GIRLS & 15U OPEN Competition

SUNDAY Flight

1-2:30pm:

NE PRIDE Scholarships @ GAME ON Fitchburg

Awards Ceremony for NE Pride Scholarships

Germann & Dalton Special Awards

2:30-4pm:

YNEW Medal Round & Awards @ GAME ON Fitchburg

Outstanding & Most Dominant Wrestlers

Sunday Flight (12U OPEN & 15U GIRLS)

Team Champions & Peckham Award

Individual Competition

In order to compete in the 2026 Youth New Englands, wrestlers must reside in one of the six New England states. Part Time Residents of a New England State (including New England boarding schools) MUST PARTICIPATE in their New England state tournament in order to compete in the Youth New Englands.

 
Wrestlers who represent their high school in ANY post-season competition are NOT ELIGIBLE to compete in the Youth New Englands. See YNEW Weights & Ages  for more information.
 

Wrestlers must meet age and weight requirements for one of the seven YNEW competition groups: GIRLS 10U/12U/15U & OPEN 8U/10U/12U/15U. The Youth New Englands is a set weight class competition. A STRICT one pound allowance (+1lb) will be added to each weight class limit during weigh-ins.

 

 Wrestlers MUST weigh LESS than their MAXIMUM WEIGHT during YNEW weigh-ins in order to compete in YNEW 2026. Your MAXIMUM WEIGHT is your weight class limit plus a one pound allowance. Please select your weight class carefully! 

 

 New this year: True Seeding for all competition groups, based on State Place Finish AND Top 8 Overall Seeding.

 

The Top 8 Overall Seeds will be selected from the six No. 1 State Seeds (one from each New England state) and the Top Two WIldcards (from all New England states).

 

Top 8 Overall Seeds are based primarily on past performance at the Youth New Englands. This seeding process will create more balanced brackets. It is similar to the process that High School New Englands recently adopted. 

 

 All state place finishers automatically qualify for the Youth New Englands. A limited number of wildcard slots are available for those who do not place or participate in their state tournament. 

 

Registration is available for all girl wrestlers who meet age, residency, and weight requirements – regardless of state placement. Registration is also available if your state does not offer a statewide competition in your age/gender group.  

 

 

Set weight classes will be used to form brackets unless there are not enough wrestlers in a weight class. In that case, Madison bracketing (combining brackets based on actual weight) may be used to create those brackets. Round robin brackets may be used if there are less than six wrestlers in a weight class.

 

Competition is double elimination except in round-robin brackets. Championship matches will have 1.5 minute period lengths; consolation matches will have 1-minute periods. Headgear is REQUIRED for all wrestlers during competition.

 

Competitors are required to certify their date of birth during online registration.  An age challenge is available for a $50 fee. All competitors agree to submit proof-of-age if challenged. Age misrepresentation will result in forfeiture of individual placement and team points. NOTE: it may not be feasible to resolve an age challenge on competition day; tournament records will be modified to reflect any changes.

Girls Competition

The 15U Girls Competition will be held on Saturday March 14th. The 10U & 12U Girls Competitions will be held on Sunday March 15th. Girl wrestlers are welcome to compete in BOTH the OPEN and the GIRL competitions that fit their age and weight. See YNEW Weights & Ages for details.


The Girls New Englands registration is open to ALL girl wrestlers in New England who are age-eligible (ages 7-15), regardless of state placement. Exception: no high school postseason competition allowed. Please encourage all of the girl wrestlers that you know to compete in the Girls New Englands on March 14-15th at Game On Fitchburg!


Once registration closes for Girls New Englands, any small weight classes (< 3 wrestlers) may be combined using Madison bracketing. If Madison brackets aren’t feasible, wrestlers will be given the option to compete in the OPEN group for which they are age-eligible. Girl wrestlers who are competing in BOTH Girls and Open competitions only need to weigh in once to make the lower of their two weight classes.

Team Competition

There will be four separate team competitions: OPEN TOWN, OPEN CLUB, GIRLS 10/12U, and GIRLS 15U. New This Year: two seperate team competition for GIRLS.

 

 Wrestlers in the OPEN competition are eligible to score team points for both club and town teams IF they train regularly with both teams. Girl wrestlers are eligible to score team points for both competition groups (OPEN & GIRLS).

 

The top 13 scorers across each competition group (TOWN/CLUB/GIRLS) are used to determine total team scoring points. Town teams are defined as teams that train seasonally (< 5 months); club teams train year round (> 5 months). Wrestlers may only  score points for a team with which they regularly train.  Team points are weighted so that older competition groups and larger brackets garner more points.

 

Team affiliations are selected during your online registration. You can make team affiliation changes by editing your registration profile up until Last Chance Monday- March 9th. See YNEW Registration for details on making changes to your registration profile. 

 

A roster challenge is available for a $50 fee; all disputes are decided by the YNEW Competition Director. See YNEW Team Scoring for more information.

Registration

Online registration ($68) for YNEW 2026 OPENS in mid-February. You can register as soon as your state tournament is completed. YNEW Registration CLOSES on Monday March 9th – Last Chance Monday. 
 
 
LAST CHANCE MONDAY is your last chance to: Register for YNEW 2026; Change Weight Class; or Change Team Affiliation. Go to the YNEW Registration Page for more information. 
 
 
YNEW Registration CLOSES on Last Chance Monday- March 9th. There are NO LATE CHANGES after Last Chance Monday – March 9th.  Go to the YNEW Registration Page for more information.

Weigh-In Schedule

FRI Early WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg (SAT Competitors ONLY)

SAT Morning WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg (SAT Morning Competitors ONLY)

SAT Afternoon WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg (SAT Afternoon Competitors ONLY)

SAT Early WEIGH IN @ MONTY TECH HS (SUNDAY Competitors ONLY)

SUN Morning WEIGH IN @ Game On Fitchburg (SUNDAY Competitors ONLY)

NOTE: All Wrestlers MUST Weigh In Wearing Their Uniform

FRI March 13th

5-8pm:

YNEW Early WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg

SATURDAY Competitors ONLY

8U/10U/12U OPEN & 15U GIRLS

(see Weigh-In Information below for details)

SAT March 14th

7-8am:

YNEW WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg

SAT MORNING Competitors ONLY

8U/10U OPEN  

(see Weigh-In Information below for details)

12-1pm:

YNEW WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg

SAT AFTERNOON Competitors ONLY

12U OPEN & 15U GIRLS  

(see Weigh-In Information below for details)

3-5pm:

YNEW Early WEIGH IN @ MONTY TECH HS

SUNDAY Competitors ONLY

10U/12U GIRLS & 15U OPEN  

(see Weigh-In Information below for details)

SUN March 15th

7-8am:

YNEW WEIGH IN @ GAME ON Fitchburg

SUNDAY competitors ONLY

10/12U GIRLS & 15U OPEN

(see Weigh-In Information below for details)

Weigh-In Information

The Youth New Englands is a set weight class competition. Wrestlers are NOT required to compete in the same weight class as their state tournament. Competitors MUST wear their uniform (e.g. singlet) during YNEW Weigh-Ins. There are NO weight class changes during YNEW Weigh-ins. 
 
 
A STRICT one pound allowance( +1 lb) will be added to each weight class limit during YNEW weigh-ins. The MAXIMUM WEIGHT for each wrestler is their weight class limit plus a one pound allowance. Wrestlers MUST weigh LESS than their MAXIMUM WEIGHT during Weigh-Ins in order to compete in YNEW 2026. See YNEW Weights & Ages for more details.
 
 
Weight class changes can be made UNTIL online registration CLOSES on March 9th – Last Chance Monday. There are NO weight class changes AFTER Last Chance Monday- March 9th. Please select your weight class carefully!
 
 
Weight classes for the GIRLS Competition are intended to be grouped by set weights.  Weight classes with not enough competitors may be combined with other weight classes using the Madison system.  When practical, competitors will be notified in advance if they are placed in a Madison weight class. 

Hotel Options

There are a limited number of nearby hotel options; make your room reservations EARLY to secure discounted rates

Gardner Colonial - HOST HOTEL

  • Rate: $199+/night
  • Reservations: Call 978-630-2500
  • Distance from Game On: 7.5 miles

(see Host Hotel for more information)

Devens Springhill Suites

Devens Hilton Garden Inn

Placement Awards

Champion

-NE Champion Hoodie 
-Champion's Wall Chart 
-Keepsake Medallion 
-YNEW All-Timers List

2nd-6th Place


-Keepsake Medallion 
-YNEW All-Timers List

Individual & Team Awards

Most Outstanding OPEN Wrestler (Peckham Award)

Most Outstanding GIRLS Wrestler (Elena Award)

Outstanding Wrestler (Seven awards)

Most Dominant Wrestlers (six awards)

New England Team Champion (CLUB & TOWN)

New England Team Champion (GIRLS - 15u Marisol Award GIRLS 10/12u team award )