For nearly 15 years the Battle for the Belt tournament hosted by Temecula Valley High has been one of the premier high school wrestling tournaments in Southern California. The 2024 edition will be no different and will feature some of the top talent across California. This juggernaut of a tournament is not for the faint of heart, hosting wrestling powerhouses from all over the state. Over 50 teams, 20 state placers, and over 500 wrestlers will show up between Jan. 12-13, with hopes of donning the UFC-style gold belt, given to the winner in each weight class. Here are five things to know about the Battle for the Belt tournament.

Three-Peat for Poway?

The No. 1 ranked team in California, Poway High will be aiming to win a third consecutive Battle for the Belt team title after winning the 2023 and 2022 editions. COVID-19 caused California to shut down which meant CIF canceled the 2020-2021 season and no tournament was competed that year. The mean green machine is riding high after winning the always-tough Doc Buchanan tournament and finishing 3rd at the National Wrestling HOF duals behind Wyoming Seminary (Pennsylvania) and Edmond Noth (Oklahoma).

Return of Battle for the Belt champ Griffin Rial

Griffin Rial of Pine Creek (Colorado) energized the crowd by winning his weight class last year over Abraham Cline of Granite Hills via a 3-2 decision. Rial upset three wrestlers at 106 pounds to find himself at the top of the podium. He was named the lower-weight outstanding wrestler of the Battle for Belt for his efforts. Rial went on to place third respectively at the Colorado State Tournament and earned his second All-American honors at the prestigious Fargo tournament in North Dakota.

6 champions return to claim a second tournament title

A total of 6 wrestlers who claimed a title in 2023 will return seeking a second tournament title. Two-time Fargo All-American and 2023 lower weights OW, Griffin Rial of Pine Creek (Colorado) is up at 120 pounds. Other returning champions include Billy Townson of Poway (126), Paul Kelly of Poway (114), Laird Root of Poway (157), Thomas Sandoval of Vacaville (190), and Michael Murillo of Bakersfield at 215 pounds.

Is Miguel Estrada of Frontier attending?

The last time Estrada competed was in March when he won his second consecutive CIF state title. Since then, Estrada has not stepped on a mat and competed for Frontier High. A University of Iowa recruit, Estrada, was second in this event after taking a loss to Poway’s Laird Root, 4-2. Up 3-2, Root was able to get the takedown and rode Estrada for over a minute to get the win. Estrada returned the favor by beating Root 4-2 in overtime in the finals of the state tournament. Fans would love to get to see a third Estrada and Root match this weekend. Let’s hope Estrada is healthy and ready to get back on the mats.

Top competition expected in Temecula

Fans can expect to see some highly-ranked wrestlers from across the area this weekend. Some of the wrestlers ranked in the top five of the state by The California Wrestler scheduled to compete include – Henry Aslikyan (Birmingham), Abraham Cline (Granite Hills), Edwin Sierra (Poway), Billy Townson (Poway), Victor Alexand Gutierrez (Central Catholic), Braden Priest (Bakersfield), Laird Root (Poway), Collin Guffey (Granite Hills), Angelo Posada (Poway), Eugenio Franco (Corona Del Mar), Michael Murillo (Bakersfield), and Adan Farha of Poway.