2026 Canadian university wrestling championships coming to Lakehead University and Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay, ON – Tuesday, September 11, 2025 – The top university wrestlers are returning to Northwestern Ontario, as Wrestling Canada Lutte (WCL) in partnership with U SPORTS and Lakehead University announced today that the 2026 University Championships will be held February 27–28, 2026, at the CJ Sanders Fieldhouse. This marks the first time since 2011 that Lakehead and Thunder Bay will welcome the nation’s top university wrestlers.

“The WCL U SPORTS Invitational Championships are always a highlight of the season, bringing together the best student-athletes from across the country,” said Tamara Medwidsky, CEO of Wrestling Canada Lutte. “Hosting the event in Thunder Bay is an exciting opportunity to showcase our sport to a passionate community, while creating a memorable experience for athletes, coaches, and fans alike.”

“It is exciting to see the university wrestling championships returning to Thunder Bay for the first time in 15 years,” said Matthew Davies, U SPORTS Chief Sport Officer. “A key objective of our sport model is to work with Wrestling Canada Lutte and our members to grow their sport at the university level, and we are seeing that in 2026 as the championships head to Lakehead, an institution with a history of hosting successful conference and U SPORTS wrestling events. We know that WCL and Lakehead will do an amazing job welcoming the best university wrestlers to Northwestern Ontario this February.”

“We are looking forward to bringing this event to Thunder Bay; this is a huge step for the program,” said Jordan Ferguson, Head Coach of Lakehead Wrestling. “The excitement is palpable in the community and we can’t wait to showcase Lakehead University and add to the history of Lakehead Wrestling.”

Ferguson, who leads the program and is supported by his partner Leah Ferguson, a former Canadian Olympian and national team wrestler, has helped build momentum around Lakehead Wrestling both on campus and across the region. Their leadership has already delivered results: at the 2025 WCL U SPORTS Championships, Hailey Florell and Adam LaFroy each captured medals, continuing the program’s proud tradition of national success.

Thunder Bay’s passion for wrestling stretches back decades, with Lakehead serving as both a training ground for athletes and a rallying point for the local sports community. The return of the national championships to the Thunderdome will once again unite athletes, alumni, and fans in celebrating one of Canada’s most tradition-rich university sports.

Details on streaming, sponsorship, and ticketing will be released at a later date.

Photo credit: Mackenzie Gerry