Eyes On St. Cloud With Kiffmeyer Duals Happening Saturday

It's going to be a big weekend at St. Cloud Tech. The Kiffmeyer Duals are this weekend, and fans of amateur wrestling should be in for a treat with the competition coming to town. Here's what you need to know about the Kiffmeyer Duals at Tech High School.

33rd Annual Kiffmeyer Duals This Saturday

Tech High School will be where you'll find plenty of amateur fans on Saturday, as the Kiffmeyer Duals are taking place. The teams that are expected to be in attendance are some of the top teams in the state, meaning plenty of talent will be showcased, with roughly a month and a half until the Minnesota State High School League's State Wrestling Tournament at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul.

History of the Kiffmeyer Duals

The Kiffmeyer Duals is a highly competitive Minnesota high school wrestling tournament hosted annually by Tech High School, named for legendary coach and official Jim Kiffmeyer. Jim was known for his distinctive style, which included stomping the mat to signal a pin, which has made him fondly remembered by athletes and fans. Jim passed away on January 4, 1997, after a battle against cancer.

The event has often seen high-level talent compete, often setting the stage for the state tournament.

Teams Competing in the 2026 Kiffmeyer Duals

6 teams are competing this year: Albert Lea Area, New Prague, Willmar, Becker, Shakopee, and St. Cloud. According to the most recent Guillotine rankings (December 23rd), which is an online amateur wrestling website, Shakopee was 3rd ranked in Class AAA, Willmar was ranked 6th, and Albert Lea Area was featured in the Lean and Mean section. 

Individually and locally, for Class AAA, St. Cloud Tech's Sutton Kenning was ranked 2nd in the 215 pound weightclass. Albert Lea Area boasted 4 ranked wrestlers, Willmar 5, and Shakopee had an impressive 7.

The Guillotine ranks for Class AA New Prague was ranked 5th as a team, with Becker receiving the designation of being Lean and Mean.

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Three New Prague wrestlers were individually ranked in the December 23rd rankings, and Becker had five wrestlers ranked.

Heading To The Kiffmeyer Duals?

Start time is scheduled for 8am on Saturday morning at Tech High School, with gates opening up at 7:30am. You can buy your ticket online, here, but remember your phone is your ticket. St. Cloud Technical High School is located at  4200 33rd St. S in St. Cloud.

I'm sure parking will be at a premium, so be patient in the parking lot.

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