Erie Warhawks Ready to Battle at Bayfront Convention Center

The Erie Sports Commission is pleased to announce the Erie Warhawks’ annual Battle on the Bay Wrestling Tournament will be contested at the Bayfront Convention Center Saturday, January 2 and Sunday, January 3, 2016.

The 2014 event, the first held at the Bayfront Convention Center, saw 350 wrestlers compete from six states, coming from as far away as Michigan. During that weekend, more than 1800 people passed through the doors of the Bayfront Convention Center.

This is the fourth year that the tournament will be held in Erie.

Wrestling will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday with an open tournament. The tournament will conclude with Sunday’s duals competition. Wrestlers will compete on seven full-sized mats for the duration of the tournament. The 2016 tournament is being recognized as a qualifying event for the Ohio Tournament of Champions.

Registration is open until December 30 for wrestlers in four age groups – 8 and under, 9&10, 11&12, and 13&14 – each divided into weight classes. Registration is $45.

Admission is free for spectators.

“Following the success of our 2015 event, we are excited to bring the Battle on the Bay back to the Bayfront Convention Center and continue to grow it into one of the premier youth wrestling tournaments on the east coast,” said Matt Selker, President of the Erie Warhawks. “With the Erie Sports Commission’s help, I’m certain we will accomplish just that.”

“The Erie Warhawks are the perfect example of a great local club that is driving sports tourism through their annual tournament,” said Ron Sertz, Executive Director of the Erie Sports Commission. “I am thrilled that they asked us to get involved, and I’m looking forward to seeing its continued growth.”

The Erie Warhawks is a local youth wrestling club focused on enforcing proper technique, intense drilling, solid conditioning, and hard work. The club is comprised of wrestlers and coaches from more than 10 schools in Erie and Crawford Counties.

For more information, visit http://www.eriewarhawks.com/.

The Erie Sports Commission is committed to promoting the Erie region as a prime destination for sports and recreation. The major goals of the ESC are to attract, create, support, and host sporting and recreational events that have a positive economic impact on the region, and assist in maximizing the potential of all regional sports facilities and venues. The ESC strives to enhance the image of Erie by showcasing the community, promote wellness through healthy lifestyles, and improve the quality of life for community members of all ages.