Salisbury, MD - The Middle Atlantic Wrestling Association (MAWA) is again holding the Eastern National Championship tournament at the Wicomico Civic Center, giving local businesses an economic boost.
MAWA organizers have partnered with Wicomico County Tourism to host the event at the Civic Center in Salisbury for over twenty years. This year, the number of athletes has grown.
"Close to 1,600 total athletes, which includes about 325 girls, encompassing 12 different states," MAWA Vice President Paul Edward said.
More female wrestlers qualifying to compete in the girls division led organizers to extend the tournament from two days to three for the first time. The competition kicked off Friday with the Elite Girls division.
"We will weigh in girls this afternoon," Edwards said. "The girls division that we're wrestling tonight is mostly high school girls."
Wicomico County Tourism and the Civic Center partner with EventConnect, a third-party platform, to direct visitors to Salisbury hotels. Tourism Manager Justin Polizzi projected that this weekend would have an approximately $2.6 million economic impact on the county.
"Out hoteliers, our restaurants here in the country," Polizzi said. "This is an event that I think everybody kind of circles on their calendar."
Four thousand family members, coaches and spectators are also expected to pass through the civic center during the three-day event.
"The exposure it provides to the county from the Mid-Atlantic region," Polizzi said. "We value what that brings to us and the exposure and the positivity that we gain from having this event here."
To qualify for the Eastern National competition, athletes had to place 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in the Regional Tournaments.
Tournaments of this magnitude take advanced planning. MAWA officials told WBOC they are already planning for next year's competition.
"It's a full-time event for the next, you know, four or five days for us," Edwards said. "We're putting in 12, 14 hours ... a labor of love."
Champions will be awarded after each division, and the opening ceremony of the finals will begin Sunday at 8 a.m.