Open Freestyle Special Event:
3rd Annual “Michigan Leader Tournament” April 4th (Alongside the Michigan Matcat Event.)
Event Registration Link
Prize Details:
The top 3-point scorers from Michigan will each win a $750.00 sponsorship from
Michigan USA Wrestling to participate in the 2026 Masters US Open Wrestling
Tournament beginning April 21st in Las Vegas. We’re looking for leaders to step up,
represent our state, and bring excitement back home to your family, your community,
and the younger wrestlers at your local club! The top 3 point-scorers will also receive
trophies, while the top 3 placers on each chart will receive medals.
New in 2026: Division E is now included. Also, we’ll be awarding a fourth $750
sponsorship to the highest scoring OUT OF STATE competitor!
Tournament Details:
1. Matches will be 2 two-minute periods with a 30 second rest between periods.
2. “Old School” double elimination freestyle charts will be used (not brackets) so if
you lose, you can still pin to win!
3. “Age Point Kickers” are in play for beating younger opponents, leveling the
playing field!
4. The “Leaderboard” with top wrestler scores will be announced before the start of
each round to raise the drama!
5. The competitor with the highest point total at end of the tournament will be
declared “THE MICHIGAN LEADER”!
Age Groups:
All age groups will wrestle together/against each other, not separately. Open division
wrestlers can also compete (out of high school up to age 25), but only Masters age
groups A, B, C, D, and E can win one of the four $750.00 sponsorships up for grabs:
Open: born 2002 and after (must be out of high school)
Masters A: born 1992-2001
Masters B: born 1984-1991
Masters C: born 1976-1983
Masters D: born 1968-1975
Masters E: born 1960-1967
Masters US Open Freestyle Weight Classes:
58kg (127.87 pounds), 62kg (136.7 pounds), 70kg (154.32 pounds), 78kg (171.96
pounds), 88kg (194 pounds), 100kg (220.46 pounds), and 130kg (286.6 pounds)
(weight-blocking will be used to evenly distribute the charts)
International Tournament Scoring to be used:
5 points for winner and 0 points for loser:
- Victory by fall (with or without point for the loser) (VFA 5:0)
- Victory due to competitor being injured DURING a bout (VIN 5:0)
- Victory due to disqualification DURING a bout in case of unfair behavior (DSQ 5:0)
4 points for winner and 0 points for loser (VSU 4:0):
- Victory by technical superiority (10 points in Freestyle during the bout), with loser not
scoring
4 points for winner and 1 point for loser (VSU1 4:1):
- Victory by technical superiority during the bout with loser scoring at least 1 point in
the match
3 points for winner and 0 points for loser (VPO 3:0):
- Victory by 1 to 9 points with the loser scoring no points in the match
3 points for winner and 1 point for loser (VPO1 3:1):
- Victory by points with the loser scoring at least one point in the match
0 points for Double Disqualifications due to infraction to the rules (2DSQ 0:0)
0 points for Double Injuries (2VIN 0:0)
0 points for Forfeits or Byes
“Age Point Kicker” Details:
Additional tournament points are awarded when an older wrestler beats a younger
wrestler. For each age group OLDER the winning wrestler is, he’ll receive an additional
0.5 points. See below for examples:
1. Group D wrestler pins a Group C wrestler.
a. Group D wrestler would receive 5.5 points total (5 fall points plus 0.5 “Age
Kicker” points)
2. Group D wrestler techs a Group B wrestler 10-0.
a. Group D wrestler would receive 5 points total (4 tech/shutout points plus 1
“Age Kicker” point)
3. Group B wrestler decisions/shuts out a Group C wrestler 6-0.
a. Group B wrestler would receive 3 points total (3 decision/shutout points,
no “Age Kicker” points)
4. Group A wrestler decisions an Open wrestler 5-4.
a. Group A wrestler receives 3.5 points total (3 decision/non-shutout points
plus 0.5 “Age Kicker”)
b. The Open Group wrestler receives 1 point for scoring at least 1 point in the
match.
5. NOTE: the “Open” wrestler’s tournament scoring points will still be kept for the
trophies, although he can’t win a $750 sponsorship since “Open” age group
wrestlers aren’t eligible to compete at the Masters US Open.
Sponsorship Details:
These $750.00 top prizes (4) are to assist with reimbursement of competition expenses
(i.e. airfare, hotel, registration for Freestyle and/or Greco, etc.) for representing
Michigan (and one other state) at the 2026 Masters US Open. THIS IS NOT JUST A FREE
TRIP TO LAS VEGAS, as you must actually compete (not just register) for any expenses
to be reimbursed. Receipts for reimbursement of up to $750.00 must be sent in a single
email no later than 06-01-2026 to: [email protected]
Additional Details:
1) In the event of a point tie for the $750.00 sponsorships, criteria will be in the
order as follows:
a) Head-to-head result if they wrestled
b) Number of falls, then number of tech falls
c) Wrestler with the lowest actual weight
2) Although not required to compete in this April 4th tournament, a “Masters
Medical Form” (see www.usawrestlingevents.com) signed by your doctor will be
required for Age Groups C, D, and E in order to compete at the Masters US Open
event in Las Vegas. If you win and something comes up where you’ll be unable to
attend the 2026 Masters Nationals, please let MUSAW know ASAP so the next
person in line can go instead.
3) Good luck to all- step up and become “THE MICHIGAN LEADER”!!!
***MINIMUM NUMBER OF ATHLETES PARTICIPATING FOR THE 4 SPONSORSHIPS
TO BE AWARDED IS 10***
Any questions on this or any other Open event, please contact
Open Director Brett Faustman at (248) 882-6653.