High school wrestlers in California are one step away from getting to compete for state titles, but there will be a very limited number of spots available for those competing in the California Interscholastic Federation’s North Coast Section.

In fact, only three girls and two boys in each weight class will survive the upcoming 2026 CIF North Coast Section Wrestling Championships and secure their spots in this year’s state tournament. 

The NCS showdown will take place Feb. 20-21 at James Logan High School in Union City, California, and all of the action will be broadcast live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app.

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To even reach the CIF North Coast Section Wrestling Championships, the athletes have battled their way through the regular season/league matches and then divisional competition, which only allowed one wrestler per weight class from each school. 

From the divisional meets, the field is narrowed again, with the size of the division dictating how many wrestlers move on to the NCS Wrestling Championships.

To add to the challenge, girls from the Oakland Section and wrestlers from leagues with no championships are invited over to compete in East Bay D2.

Here’s the breakdown: 

Number Of Athletes Who Advanced To The NCS Wrestling Championships

Boys

• East Bay D1 – 6 
• East Bay D2 – 5 
• Redwood Empire D2 – 6 
• Redwood Empire D3 – 4

Girls

• East Bay D1 – 7 
• East Bay D2 – 5 
• Redwood Empire D2 – 5 
• Redwood Empire D3 – 4

In all, California includes 10 geographic sections that all are enduring the same challenges in February on their way to the 2026 CIF State Wrestling Championships presented by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association.

The state event will be held Feb. 26-28 at Dignity Health Arena in centrally located Bakersfield, California. 

As you get settled in for the next step of the championship season, here's everything you need to know about the 2026 CIF NCS Wrestling Championships, including a link to the brackets:

What Are The Weight Classes In California High School Wrestling?

In Pounds

• Boys: 108, 115, 122, 128, 134, 140, 146, 152, 159, 167, 177, 192, 217, 287 
• Girls: 102, 107, 112, 117, 122, 127, 132, 137, 142, 147, 157, 172, 192, 237

NOTE: The additional 2-pound growth allowance has been added to these weight classes. According to NFHS rules, wrestlers will be given one pound for the second day weigh-in.

2026 North Coast Section Wrestling Championships Brackets

Here’s where you’ll be able to find the brackets for the 2026 NCS Wrestling Championships: 

• 2026 NCS Wrestling Championships Brackets Can Be Found Here

How To Watch The 2026 NCS Wrestling Championships

Live coverage of the 2026 NCS Wrestling Championships on Feb. 20-21 will be broadcast on FloWrestling and the FloSports app, with news, notes, stats and more available on both platforms.

Archives will be available immediately following the conclusion of each match.

If you’re going to be in the area and want to catch the action in person, go to this page for spectator and ticket information.

NCS has partnered with GoFan to go exclusively to online ticketing for all rounds of section championships. Tickets may be purchased online in advance. 

• General Admission (adults) – $13; Seniors, students & children w/adults – $5
• Three-session pack: General Admission (adults) – $36; Seniors, students & children w/ adults – $12

How Many Wrestlers From Each Section Advance To The State Tournament?

Here’s a look at how many athletes from each section, per weight class, will advance to the state event:

Boys

• Southern Section: 10
• Central Section: 10
• Sac-Joaquin Section: 5
• North Coast Section: 2
• Central Coast Section: 4
• San Diego Section: 4*
• Northern Section: 2
• Los Angeles Section: 1
• Oakland Section: 1
• San Francisco Section: 1

*San Diego Section will fill any voids left vacant by the Oakland Section.

Girls

• Southern Section: 8
• Central Section: 5
• Sac-Joaquin Section: 5
• Northern Section: 2
• North Coast Section: 3
• Central Coast Section: 4
• San Diego Section: 3
• Los Angeles Section: 2

Read more about the 2025 state meet: 2025 CIF California State Wrestling Championship Results And Brackets

2026 CIF North Coast Section Wrestling Championships Schedule

Here’s a look at when everything is going down in California:

Thursday, Feb. 19

• 5-8 p.m. – Girls and boys early registration at James Logan High School
• 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. – Girls and boys workouts

Friday, Feb. 20, 2026 

Girls

• 6:15-7 a.m. – Final registration 
• 7 a.m. – Weigh-ins 
• 7:30-8 a.m. – Coaches submit final forms
• 7:45 a.m. – Box office opens; Doors open
• 8:30-8:45 a.m. – Coaches’ meeting

Boys

• 7-7:30 a.m. – Final registration 
• 11:30 a.m. – Weigh-ins 
• 7:30-Noon – Coaches submit final forms
• 7:45 a.m. – Box office opens; Doors open
• 1-1:30 p.m. – Coaches’ meeting

Approximate Competition Schedule

• 9-10:10 a.m. – Girls Championship Round 1 (10 mats)
• 10:10-11:20 a.m. – Girls Championship Round 2/Round 1 Consolation (11 mats)
• 11:20 a.m.-Noon – Small gym shut down 
• 11:20-12:20 p.m. – Girls Round 2 Consolation (six mats)
• 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Boys weigh-ins
• 12:20-12:52 p.m. – Girls Consolation Round 2 continued (10 mats)
• 12:52-1:30 p.m. – Girls Championship Round 3a (Quarterfinals) (six mats)
• 12:52-1:30 p.m. – Girls Consolation Round 3a (six mats)
• 1:30-1:55 p.m. – Girls Consolation Round 3b (two mats)
• 1:30-1:57 p.m. – Girls Championship Round 3b (Quarterfinals) (four mats)
• 1:57 p.m. – Day 1 ends for girls
• 1:30-2 p.m. – Boys Championships Round 1a (two mats)
• 2-3 p.m. – Boys Championship Round 1b (10 mats)
• 3-4:07 p.m. – Boys Championships Round 2/Boys Round 1 Consolation (10 mats)
• 4:07-5:03 p.m. – Boys Consolation Round 2 (10 mats)
• 5:03-6:24 p.m. – Boys Championships Round 3 (Quarterfinals) (four mats)
• 6:24-7:10 p.m. – Boys Consolation Round 3 (six mats)
• 7:10 p.m. – Day 1 ends for boys

Saturday, Feb. 21

• 7 a.m. – Weigh-ins
• 9-10:35 a.m. – Girls Consolation Round 4 (three mats)
• 9-10:35 a.m. – Boys Consolation Round 4 (three mats)
• 10:35 a.m.-Noon – Girls Championship Round 4 (Semifinals) (two mats)
• 10:35 a.m.-Noon – Boys Championship Round 4 (Semifinals) (two mats)
• 10:35 a.m.-Noon – Girls Consolation Round 5a (one mat)
• 10:35 a.m.-Noon – Boys Consolation Round 5a (one mat)
• Noon-12:20 p.m. – Girls Consolation Round 5b (three mats)
• Noon-12:20 p.m. – Boys Consolation Round 5b (three mats)
• 12:20-1:05 p.m. – Girls Consolation Round 6 (Consolation Semifinals) (three mats)
• 12:20-1:05 p.m. – Boys Consolation Round 6 (Consolation Semifinals) (three mats)
• 1:30-2:40 p.m. – Girls Consolation Round 7 (Seventh Place) (one mat)
• 1:30-2:40 p.m. – Boys Consolation Round 7 (Seventh Place) (one mat)
• 1:30-2:40 p.m. – Girls Consolation Round 7 (Fifth Place) (one mat)
• 1:30-2:40 p.m. – Boys Consolation Round 7 (Fifth Place) (one mat)
• 1:30-2:40 p.m. – Girls Consolation Round 7 (Third Place) (one mat)
• 3:30-5 p.m. – Girls Finals (one mat)
• 3:30-5 p.m. – Boys Finals (one mat)
• 3:30-5 p.m. – Boys Consolation Round 7 (Third Place) (one mat)
• 5 p.m.-TBD – Boys True Second (one may)

When Is The 2026 CIF Wrestling Championships?

The 2026 CIF Wrestling Championships presented by the California Correctional Peace Officers Association will be held Feb. 26-28 at Dignity Health Arena in Bakersfield, California. 

Did You Know: High School Championship Wrestling In California Spans Five Decades

The first CIF state championship for boys was held in 1973. The first event for the girls took place in 2011. 

Amazingly, it took three decades for California to see its first four-time state champion. That honor went to Bakersfield’s Darrell Vasquez from 1999-2002 at 103, 112, 119 and 125 pounds. In the years since, three more athletes have added their names to the list.

There are 24 three-time champions and 83 wrestlers who have won twice. 

On the girls side, five wrestlers own three CIF state titles. 

Clovis tops the list of all-time team titles with 13, while the Selma girls lead the way with three.

The Central Section Division IV boys tournament first was held during the 2021-2022 season. 

2025-2026 FloWrestling High School Wrestling Rankings

Top 20 as of Feb. 18, 2026

Curious about how the top wrestlers from each state stack up against competitors from across the country?

Click here to see the latest high school rankings from FloWrestling.

Talk The Talk, Walk The Walk – Celebrate Like A Champion

El Diamante’s Chris Creason basked in his state title moment during the 2025 CIF Wrestling Championships. 

Creason won the 157-pound state title, becoming the first state champion from Visalia, California, in 45 years and the first in the history of his school.

Trackwrestling Has Joined The New FloWrestling

Trackwrestling officially has merged with FloWrestling, bringing its powerful tournament tracking tools and live data into a modern, all-in-one platform. 

Fans can follow every bout with pro-grade brackets, mat schedules, team rosters and detailed wrestler profiles—all seamlessly integrated within FloWrestling.

This move delivers a faster, smarter and more connected experience for the wrestling community. Through the updated FloSports app, users can track live results, explore brackets and even sign up for free alerts so they never miss a match.

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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