Johnstown arena to host PIAA team wrestling, competitive spirit championships from 2026-28

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, May 16, 2025 | 6:18 PM

State champions in team wrestling and competitive spirit will be crowned in Johnstown for the next three years.

The PIAA announced 1st Summit Arena at Cambria County War Memorial will host the championships for the 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years. Championship venues for other winter sports were announced last year.

PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi said Johnstown was chosen over bids from Penn State Rec Hall to host team wrestling event and from the Erie Insurance Arena for spirit. Lombardi cited presentations submitted by the Johnstown venue as a deciding factor.

This past season, the PIAA team wrestling championships were held in Altoona. Santander Arena in Reading held the spirit championships. Both were previously held in Hershey, but the PIAA had said Giant Center no longer bid to host the events.

Giant Center will continue to host the state basketball and individual wrestling championships through the 2027-28 school year while Bucknell remains host of the swimming and diving championships.

Hersheypark Arena hosted the team wrestling championship from 1999-2002. They were held next door at Giant Center from 2003-24, except for 2021 when Cumberland Valley hosted.

The PIAA competitive spirit finals, first held at Hersheypark Arena in 2013, moved to Giant Center from 2014-24.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.