Absolutely Toughest HS Wrestling Tournaments - the ONLY Correct List

Wrestling fans love to debate the toughest high school tournaments in the country. This is your definitive list of the Top 8 most difficult.
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Video Inspiration & Resources:
Toughest HS Tournaments (Intermat) intermatwrestle.com/platinum?...
Powerade Greatest Moments - observer-reporter.com/columns...
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VIDEO SOURCES:
Beast of the East - • Cody Chittum | Blair A...
Brecksville - • Jimmy Carmany | Brecks...
Cheesehead - • Cheesehead 2018
Doc Buchanan - • See highlights from th...
ETR Highlights - • Escape the Rock 2018 T...
Ironman - • 189 lbs FInal Ironman ...
Powerade - • 2017 Powerade Wrestlin...
Reno ToC - • 2019 - Reno Tournament...
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[@dillonmackay683]

I’d say Doc Buchanan ,Iron man and Beast of the east and Eastern States are up there

[@keeganduncan5289]

I’d say super 32 has to be up there! There’s been guys like Yianni D, David Carr, Luke Pletcher, Joey Dance, Anthony Ashnault, the Massa’s from Michigan, Ben Whitford, Chance Marsteller, etc. not to mention the Brackets are MASSIVE ranging from 180-240 in each weight! This at the very least deserves to be on the list in my opinion!

[@mr.tuatalks4936]

32 is offseason. i think he did list on in season events where whole teams went

[@quadesmith7921]

I thought super 32 would either be 1 or 2 with Ironman.

[@brianc1651]

Super 32 is a preseason tournament. Not an actual high school tourney.

[@bdywgvo]

..P.J. Duke..

[@ogwrestlingcoach7932]

Super 32 is the hardest tournament in the country, but it is an offseason tournament. That's why he mentioned it just before mentioning Ironman at #1. Did you watch the entire video???

[@rjnoble6482]

When is flo gonna hire this guy

[@misanthropicmusings4596]

Amen brother!

[@bbdl7042]

Don’t curse the man like that. Flos is crashing the last few months, hs and middle school rankings ( kids in wrong weights or no logical reason to have kids low/high ) sense willie left. They just fired another classic guy for asking the girls USA team for pictures.

[@kenny2xtimes61]

No cus then we’re gonna have to pay to watch I like it how it is

[@betsysinger7121]

Two seconds from now Bro

8 - Cheesehead Invitational / January / Kaukauna Wisc / 30 teams 7 - Brecksville Invitational / December / Brecksville Ohio / 40 teams 6 - Escape the Rock / January / Council Rock South, Penn / 56 teams 5 - Reno Tournament of Champions / December / Reno NV / 50 teams 4 - Doc Buchanan / January / Clovis, California / 100 teams 3 - Powerade / December / Canonsburg, Penn / 50 teams 2 - Beast of the East / December / Newark, Delaware / 100 teams 1 - Walsh Jesuit IRONMAN / December / Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio / 125 teams SUPER 32 / October / Greensboro NC / Top Ranked Individuals FARGO / July / Fargo ND / Top Ranked in Freestyle & Greco

[@VinylUnboxings]

You’re forgetting the hardest one though… The final tournament of _Backyard Wrestling 2: There Goes The Neighborhood_ featuring the Insane Clown Posse

[@robertwestover2125]

I’d flip the Beast of the East and Powerade tournaments, but very well done! I think Fargo is very underrated as well. Steel sharpens steel!

[@FancoWrestling]

Beast & Ironman could be flipped and I wouldn't be upset by that. And totally right -- when you get so many of those tough guys in the same gym sparks fly and guys truly get better. I love to see it!

[@iFunky0]

not this year

[@FancoWrestling]

Do you agree with this list? And have you personally wrestled at any of these tournaments? Comment below, then check out the other videos in this Fanco 50 Series. 👉 Watch the NEXT Video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqbLen1_jp2osMk&t= 🤼‍♂️ Full Fanco 5️⃣0️⃣ Playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLR1K50D7zogJERvK0Nd6I6QO_QBwQVkyA

[@MrLGJ11]

Cheesehead is meat grinders tons of matches

[@kelka78]

@Joseph Scott Super32 is off season, as is Fargo. Don't think they are being considered.

[@kelka78]

Ironman is #1 - far and away. Beast is likely #2. Powerade and Escape the Rock have basically been back and forth in terms of talent the last few years, but I could see you giving Powerade the edge based on history. Doc B has top end talent that may be comparable or even better than Powerade and ETR in a year, but the depth is not really comparable. Reno is not what it used to be, but sheer volume puts it up there. My list given Fanco's criteria: 1) IM 2) Beast 3) Powerade 4) ETR 5) Doc B 6) Reno

[@mr.tuatalks4936]

Wrestled at 1st 3 Beasts. It was tough as hell then. I was cadet all american/2x state champ . Bracket my final year had *4x prep champ Todd Beckerman and Sean Gray , a 3x prep champ and cadet ntl champ . Also had PA state runner up (3x placer), MD State champs, A guy from St. Benedicts who was 2nd at preps a weight above (probably ducking Beckerman) plus others champs and state/prep/ placers from DEl,, MD, NJ.,pa between my 3 years...Blair, Brick, St. Marks, WM Penn, Great Bridge all there. i placed 2-2-4.

[@dramaking9377]

The best channel out there. You're constantly putting out new content. There's nowhere to go for us former wrestlers...appreciate the channel

[@Nameandaddresswithheld]

This reminds me of my sheer and immense disappointment that I was on a bad team, and therefore never got to attend Reno or Doc B even though 3 other teams from my league went..

[@Spanky7]

Great video, though I'd flip Powerade & Beast of the East. With you & your brother I was able to watch you two compete in Ironman, Beast of the East, Powerade , Escape the Rock, all just brutal tourneys.

[@bbdl7042]

Living within two hours of Powerade, Ironman and brecksville is always great to go see the future college guys. Also helps I’m in the biggest conference in the country.

[@WrestlingCentral]

Even Iron,an because that is like 10 minutes away from Brecksville

[@andu1854]

Doc Buchanan is definitely the toughest west coast tourney for sure…

[@billybud9557]

I just saw this, and I know it's old, but I loved it. I wrote an article about this very topic about 20 years ago, for a big, unmentionable internet wrestling site.....and I received plenty of flak from the folks that had their favs. Tourneys have changed greatly since then, but some were on my list, and are still around. The Beast of the East (formerly called the DMAC), Doc Buchanon, and RTOC are still tough and listed. But I agree, Ironman is now top of the heap. FWIW, over the years, I have seen the Doc B champion and the RTOC champ wrestle each other(sometimes the next year)....but each time, the RTOC champ won. Just an anecdote. Great vid Josiah.

[@tsav32]

You nailed that list, my man. 👍

[@FancoWrestling]

Thank you! I put time and effort into making it right, so glad that you thought so.

[@damonficken3457]

Damn! A Delaware Valley shoutout for Escape the Rock! My old alma mater....definitely a very tough tournament. Loved competing there

[@xenonmaster6668]

This is an awesome list! 😁

[@FancoWrestling]

Thanks!

[@xenonmaster6668]

Fanco Wrestling thanks for the message on Instagram the other day 😁. This summer for my media has been at its peak for wrestling, I’ve gotten in contact with so many wrestlers. 😁

[@shakazulu301]

When I wrestled at Reno in 2011 there were 100+ teams. When I was there in 2012 there was like 96 I think?? Growing up, Reno was def the number 1 or 2 toughest tournament. We wrestled against Easton, all kinds of the best Cali schools… RTOC was def one of the best.

[@jacobhoupt329]

Yo I’m a Powerade place winner from this year!

[@FancoWrestling]

My man! It's a tough tournament to place at, so good work, Jacob. I couldn't go this past year, but I always follow CM results!

[@youarerightboss]

Good job. Keep getting better. Include powerlifting (Deadlifts/Bench Press/Squats) in your routine. Let me know if you need a powerlifting schedule.

[@williamdehaas9982]

Agree with your list Walsh Ironman is the premiere hs tournament Like when the Altons dominated a decade+ ago From LH

[@zacharysmith2730]

I wrestled at Powerade one year... 0-2 😂

[@TrapperTVFoss]

How do you feel about Fargo and Reno worlds? I thought Reno worlds was tougher competition than TOC

[@dougtovey8010]

Reno Worlds is a tennis shoe tournamnet compared to the TOC.

[@andreabortoluzzi9961]

My son's senior year at Kiski school, they wrestled the super quad, Blair , seminary,and st.eds ,talk about studs.they also wrestled the Ironman, the beast ,and powerade that year.

[@tigerpark135]

If you are counting out of season tournies like Super 32 and Fargo then you have to concede that NHSCA Nationalal Duals in VA Beach is every bit as tough as those.

[@beaucward]

Have you ever considered just taking the audio from your videos and uploading it to a podcast? believe that your videos would transition very well to a podcast platform. I don’t have time to watch much you tube but I think you do a really great job and if I had an option to listen in a podcast, I would listen to all of them on my commute. In my opinion, it’s ok to have a podcast that is short. I struggle to listen to Flow Wrestling podcast because it is so long and they really drag out their content. I wish that they could just do a 10 to 25 minutes podcast and strip out all the senseless banter. Who has time for that? That is why I like your content better. The tempo of your videos is spot on. You bring the right amount of energy, not too much and not too little. When I listen to flow wrestling’s podcast, i struggle because it seems to drag on and the information and thought that I want is too sparse. It feels like work to get to the info I want to hear. I wish that they would stop stalling and start talking wrestling. Keep up the great work!!!

[@ethangreen7132]

This actually a really good idea

[@n.h6001]

Just curious if you ever took a look at Battle for the Belt tournament in Temecula, CA? Supposed to be one of the tougher CA tournaments

[@kev4850]

Temecula is definitely one of the tough CA tournaments. It used to be even way more tough back in the day I heard. Especially when Mejia was in Highschool

[@andu1854]

I think doc Buchanan is slightly tougher, but that tourney is definitely a good one

[@n.h6001]

@@andu1854 Doc B is tougher, but the battle for the belt is no slouch either

[@mr.tuatalks4936]

i was in ca on recruiting trip and drove up from San Diego to see this tournament on a recommendation. Saw some great wrestling. Really top level guys. extremely tough. there wasn't a "soft" weight class. not as tough 1-16 as some others. but by quarters and semi's it was all guys with college potential. found a fresh (took 4th) and soph (took 3rd) that we gave scholarships to. People didn't even know these kids yet. the soph ended up 2x all-american and 2nd place at NCAA. the freshman was All American (5th) his soph yr with us. Had few problems transferred became JUCO nat'l champ then D2 nat'l champ. If I recall was undefeated last 2 yrs.

[@mikemurray5563]

As a Virginia wrestler, it's definitely worth mentioning Great Bridge and Grundy as schools, I'd say more so than Christiansburg.

[@tacohombre3648]

Great Bridge definitely a powerhouse 💯💯💯

[@jte3209]

Hey man , thought it might be interesting if you made a video on Justin Gaethje. He has an upcoming fight in the UFC against feared undefeated grappler Khabib. Gaethje's wrestling credentials have become part of the narrative of the fight as he was an All American wrestler in college and a state champ in high school (AZ). So arguably had a good chance of shutting down Khabib'd grappling. Would be cool to have a video from someone who really knows wrestling explaining Gaethje's wrestling pedigree. As someone who isn't American it helps having these credentials explained. Also considering the attention around the fight it would probably give your channel quite a lot of attention if you made a video on this topic.

[@marksoberay2318]

The Brecksville is the oldest and started the holiday super tournament tradition

[@bradyoder5899]

Many years ago my HS wrestled in Powerade. I placed 4th 2 2nds and won my senior year. Great memories and tough wrestling!

[@chilltown848]

checked all the records and brad yoder was never a champion

[@bradyoder5899]

@@chilltown848 1999 125

[@chilltown848]

@@bradyoder5899 no that was Keith Sutherland

[@mikef9126]

@@chilltown848 no. That was brad yoder.

[@kyledeisley2108]

Where would you rank Chambersburg’s Trojan Wars? Top 10? Top 20?

[@jamalsmalls3077]

i wrestled at the cheesehead tournament in 2020 as a senior and it was great.

[@specspectacular1275]

Will this list be updated? And where would the dan gable donnybrook be ranked at?

[@andu1854]

In CA, just to expand, the Super 32 is a tough one, Gilroy MidCals is the toughest nor Cal tournament, the 5 Counties is also a tough one (it where my school’s last state champion cemented his claim to the number one ranking in state and led to Title at 140 in 2005)… of course my second year wrestling son would find every tourney tough as nails (he is still learning how to wrestle )

[@travisbishop2928]

Not surprised at all seeing the powerade, the beast, and Ironman as the top 3. I remember going to watch my brother as a sophomore wrestling at the beast. When he lost in the semis and had to wrestle back to place 3rd, all I remember thinking is how tough of a tournament it actually is.

[@brianc1651]

I went to Nazareth (didn't wrestle there). We produce a lot of State Champs, but only a few Beast Champs.

[@Trephining]

I know it's not technically a tournament, but the Dapper Dan came to mind as soon as I saw this video in my feed. The PA state championships must stand pretty high up there, though that's an individual qualifier thing.

[@mr.tuatalks4936]

Just an invite to Dapper Dan tells you all you need to know about a guy

[@amanrob]

I don't know if they're still doing it, but the Five-Counties Invitational in southern California was one of the toughest for a very long time.

[@dylanlong4052]

Pretty spot on, but don't forget super 32 and NHSCA national duals. Those are meat grinders too

[@rrt5000]

Ive been watching your videos for a while and just learned that youre from guntown. Not far from me and my son goes to Canon-mac.

[@zachspicer9929]

Eastern States has to be up there!

[@charlesbromberick4247]

Great job. In my day (60 yrs. ago) the answer was easy - the section 8 championships in New York. Wrestling is definitely a sport of a school´s tradition - like your Canonsburg.

[@zaynes5094]

I’m New York native and a former wrestler, just ten years ago, but I wrestled against some section 8 wrestlers, and since I was Section 9, I saw real tough dudes. One of my teammates ranked #3 in the state wrestler against a guy in a tournament from section 8 and he won that match (teched him). New York State Section 9 is almost always so even between about 5 or 6 teams. Wallkill (my last school) and Valley Central (my first high school) were the two toughest in Section 9 when I was there (some 8-9 years), but now it’s always Minisink and Monroe Woodbury.

[@charlesbromberick4247]

@@zaynes5094 Very interesting, thanks Zayne. Those that don´t wrestle will never understand our passion, but it´s a GREAT sport. Good day.

[@steelrain91]

Need to look at The Al Dvorak memorial tournament in Illinois…..it’s always been one of the toughest HS tourneys in nation. Wrestlers from Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, possibly more. I thinks it’s going on year 34 or 35

[@larbear3648]

And after they beat Easton they got the fabulous opportunity to wrestle Blair lol, they also wrestled in the Bethlehem tournament, they wrestled Wyoming Seminary and Bergen Catholic, they beat both ( Wyoming Seminary was missing half thier lineup lol)

[@youarerightboss]

Thanks, Josiah💪🇺🇸.

[@billburkle215]

I wrestled at Brecksville in 1961-1963..very tough

[@joshuaadams738]

My nephews school goes to Reno often. We didn't last year because we had a young team but if things work out with this virus. They should be there again this year

[@FancoWrestling]

Awesome! I wrestled at Reno in HS and attended the tournament this past year. It's a well-run, fun, and tough event. Where do your nephews go to school?

[@joshuaadams738]

@@FancoWrestling they go to Grundy High School in VA. I heard you mention Christiansburg.. They use to be rivals with them when i was in school. But we've since dropped to 1A and Christiansburg is now 3A. But Grundy Golden Wave won their 23rd state team title this past year so we haven't slowed down too much even with the lack of kids in the area.

[@joshuaadams738]

@@FancoWrestling i would like for them to go to the tourneys in OH and Pa over Reno if i had my way. It's closer and the competition isn't lacking either.

[@elijahmakel4191]

When your team’s first 3 tournaments this year we’re Iron Man, Beast, then Powerade

[@larbear3648]

Was wondering if you have ever heard of High Point hs wrestling team from sussex County NJ, I know they wrestled in the cheesehead tournament. They have a fantastic program, my sons senior yr they beat Easton PA who was #1 in PA

[@COACHWARBLE]

Beast of the East was originally call the Mid Atlantic classic.

[@HNICB1GM1K3]

The clash. And super 32 are tuff

[@tommylink3043]

I won escape the rock this year also placed at beast and ironman.

[@youarerightboss]

Good job. Keep improving.

[@sonoftroy8572]

Reno Tournament of Champion - El Cajon Tournament in San Diego - Five Counties Invitationals

[@skymanchronicles8936]

I like the Medina tourney in Ohio, really tough but top 8 is strong for sure.

[@theprankenys4975]

Apple Valley Minnesota has fallen big time. Has not qualified for Team State for 2 years after qualifying 35 straight years! They only had one wrestler qualify for state last year. Shakopee High School is coached by former Apple Valley coach and they are the best in Minnesota

[@univxrse6615]

Look at there competition some hard ones

[@Cbabyperk]

If this included off-season tournaments as well, where would Fargo be on the list?

[@mpmv2926]

Top 3 for sure

[@lukaslittletonmascaro9504]

Hey man just wanted to say you skipped over malvern prep in a lot of the tournaments

[@mikeolson268]

Do you attend the big meets Josiah?

[@nicswift490]

I placed at Gardner edergton last year

[@jasonvoorhees6416]

Here in Ohio we always considered top gun or the iron man the toughest tournaments. Now I’m from the 90s so it could be totally different now days. Anything involving Brecksville I imagine would be tough

[@LoriFoster]

Didn’t see the Hamilton Ross JV Tourney mentioned!

[@user-yh7pt6zg9e]

I wrestled at geary invitational and the Kansas City stampede they were prett tuff tournaments

[@mandnz8597]

thoughts on lcc? La Costa Canyon

[@Nsayles]

I wrestled at beast of the east.

[@yo2stix]

Mid 90’s was Reno and 5 counties. CA Southern Section CIF was the strongest area in the nation. Most weight classes had National High school champs. I lost in the quarterfinals at CIF. The guy that won was from Calvary Chapel…he won state 3 times and a national champ…Joe Calavitta.

[@KongYTok]

Hey I’m actually from Delaware and I just worked today at beast of the east

[@Wrestlingchamppp]

Good list but definitely missed Fargo and super 32

[@brockpurdysburner]

no super 32? i’m surprised

[@bradynardella1440]

I think it doesn’t count because it’s an off-season tournament, but if it did it would be top 3 easy

[@carlosortiz6923]

Yea super 32 and Fargo don't count on the list since they aren't in high school season.

[@FancoWrestling]

I didn't officially count Super 32 and Fargo since they're not during the regular season. Where would you rank them if I had counted them for the list?

[@brockpurdysburner]

Fanco Wrestling gotcha. i would say Ironman at 1, Powerade at 2, Fargo at 3, BOTE at 4 and Super 32 at 5 imo

[@Joeygt25]

@@brockpurdysburner the thing is with super 32 you don’t know how many will actually be there. Some years there will be better.

[@Christian-xc5pv]

been to reno as club wrestling tournament, all the way from Oklahoma, and they said as well it was the hardest tournament, i didnt think it was alllll that great

[@RollTideJD]

I was about to blow a gasket until you mentioned super 32 and Fargo

[@FancoWrestling]

Hahah don't worry I know they're some of the toughest out there!

[@bg8807]

Where does the five counties rank?

[@siddharthsharma3889]

To be honest, I initially thought they were questioning this by state, in which case I would've said the PIAA tournament as a whole. To be honest, you could even make an argument that it is one of the toughest tournaments, even within this list.

[@sadcowboysfan2114]

What about NHSCA’s Also nhsca is in my hometown and my high school is the team that sets up the mats

[@brianc1651]

It's offseason. These are in season.

[@chriswitek9455]

cheesehead had atleast two teams come from arizona. and yeah it was something like 32 teams. some guys wrestled 8 matches even

[@craighanson2983]

Check out Hudson MI wrestling team and their past state championship record.

[@mikehergenroether6160]

Suriano wrestled in the Doc as well.

[@keithhitch3454]

Man i miss wrestling for Central Dolphin HS. Whole team used to be solid!

[@tomb4060]

Dauphin

[@Trephining]

@@tomb4060 figured he was kind of joking on that spelling, ie it was deliberate, but maaayne not

[@npierce14]

Cant remeber what year but one year vincenzo Joseph wrestled zahid Valencia at Ironman at 103 lol

[@loganstumpf767]

I’m a former Kaukauna wrestler and the cheesehead is around a 32 man bracket not 16. Also it’s hard ass tournament I had 8 national ranked guys in my bracket in 2020

[@jarredoneill5788]

When my brother won beast and Powerade

[@FancoWrestling]

Your brother sounds like a beast himself!

[@jarredoneill5788]

Fanco Wrestling yeah his name is Connor oneill he’s going to Rutgers

[@baronjustice2322]

What about Super 32 or Holy Angels

[@paulbartleson8878]

The Clash in Minnesota? How is that not on the list?

[@JK-og1sl]

Great rankings. Typical Canon Mac guy not mentioning Waynesburg as a top team at these top tournies, but fit in a Macri mention. Hahaha. J/K.

[@misanthropicmusings4596]

Fargo is freestyle/greco, yes?

[@FancoWrestling]

Yes - that's why I don't have it in the main rankings.

[@northernice656]

Surprised Rumble on the Red isn’t here

[@darriuscampbell4404]

Rollie lane In nampa idaho Brings 60-80 teams every year with 64 man brackets it’s tough

[@zaynes5094]

New York native and New York State wrestling is really tough. We’ve got some really good wrestlers (Shakur Rasheed being a notable one in the past decade having won a state title and gone on to be final 4 three straight seasons) I was never great, nor did I really care, I did wrestling for fitness and to stay in shape for outdoor track. I would be low during Cross County season, then bulk up before Wreskting, then cut down to 140 and it was very bad. I wish I had just told my coach I would be better off at 154 and would’ve probably been able to make it at 160 weight, but decided to stop wrestling junior year. It’s some tough ones on the east coast. Pennsylvania has some really good ones.

[@1m_everywhere]

Doc B is always awesome to watch

[@vincentwinkleblech3614]

How good can a program be that cannot bring a full lineup?

[@himom5518]

IHPO is gonna be up there soon

[@brianc1651]

From Nazareth. We have many State Champions, but few Beast Champs and we go every year. Heck, our only 3x State Champ, Tim Darling, never even won it.

[@zachmaisner]

If we could Jo I know we would say BEST is Powerade =)

[@MarkSmithhhh]

1. Iron man 2. Doc b 3. Powerade Doc has all the ca schools, add all lhp, Wyoming sem., bergen, etc...

[@octonautical6592]

Did Doc Buch become Zinkin?

[@erichood3169]

Ohio New Jersey pennsylvania and Maryland always seemed toughest to me.

[@derekalt879]

The Afton quadrangular!!!

[@ncreed_235]

Aye hunter my guy I see u got him on the cover

[@cbeary2000]

Dude, when is Flo gonna hire this guy.

[@rhino447attack]

Grappler Fall Classic

[@giantsarmy5418]

The New Jersey state tournament would like a word wirh you

[@nicolasb1497]

That’s Hunter Catka

[@MrLnikolloj]

LHP goes to about five of these tournaments every year

[@jackdibenedetto]

Pt 2 🤷‍♂️