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State wrestling, hoops staying in the Well through at least 2025

WEBSTER CITY — The state wrestling and basketball tournaments aren’t going anywhere.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Board of Control approved contracts last week with Spectra, operator of the Iowa Events Center, to keep the two state tournaments inside Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines through at least 2025.

“We are excited to extend our agreement with the Iowa Events Center to host our state wrestling and basketball championships at Wells Fargo Arena,” IHSAA executive director Tom Keating said. “This extension allows our student-athletes to continue to experience the thrill of state tournament competition in a first-class venue.”

The contract extension also includes five optional annual renewals after 2025, which could take the contract through 2030.

Wrestling will remain on a four-day cycle, which will open with the state dual tournament, followed by the three-day traditional tournament.

There was a hope by some wrestling enthusiasts that the state dual tournament would be moved to a different date away from the traditional tournament, but the new contract ensures there will be no changes for the next five and possibly 10 years.

The state basketball tournament will remain on a five-day cycle.

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