The Grizzly Invitational Tournament hits a major milestone this weekend, and for Wadsworth High School, the 40th edition feels a little extra special.
Eighteen teams from Ohio and beyond will pack the mats Saturday as one of the state’s premier wrestling events returns to Wadsworth. The field is stacked, featuring 11 projected state champions and dozens of ranked wrestlers, but the home crowd will be focused on the Grizzlies.
The Beacon Journal reports Wadsworth enters the tournament with momentum and depth, led by standout senior Kolten Mellon, who returns after a strong showing at last year’s Grizzly Invitational. Mellon is expected to be a key point scorer as Wadsworth looks to compete with some of the nation’s most decorated programs.
The Grizzlies will test themselves against elite competition including Detroit Catholic Central, St. Paris Graham, Perrysburg, and Bishop Watterson. These are programs known for producing state champions and podium finishers year after year.
Wadsworth coaches say the Grizzly Invitational has always been about more than wins and losses. It’s a measuring stick, a chance to see how their wrestlers respond against the very best, on their home mats, with a packed gym behind them.
Pool wrestling begins at 9 a.m., with finals expected around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. As the tournament celebrates four decades of tradition, Wadsworth’s wrestlers will look to make the ruby anniversary one to remember.
