2025 KEYSTONE STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS HONORED AS A 2025 CHAMPION OF ECONOMIC IMPACT IN SPORTS TOURISM IN SPORTS DESTINATION MANAGEMENT
STATE COLLEGE, PA (November 3, 2025) — Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, has announced the 2025 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism. This year’s winners are responsible for contributing a more-than-welcome boost of more than $1.4 billion to the national economy over the past year.
Among the winners was the 2025 Keystone State Wrestling Championships, hosted at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania.
The 2025 Keystone State Wrestling Championships, held March 14–16, brought more than 3,200 youth wrestlers from across Pennsylvania to compete for state titles in double-elimination brackets. Athletes qualified through five regional tournaments, and three full days of high-energy competition showcased the best young wrestling talent in the state.
Held during Penn State’s 2025 spring break, the tournament drew thousands of families, coaches, and fans to Happy Valley, resulting in the busiest spring break the area has ever experienced. The event boosted hotel occupancy and drove increased business for local restaurants, retailers, and attractions, delivering a major economic lift during a typically slow tourism season.
“Hosting the Keystone State Wrestling Championships in Happy Valley is exactly what the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance was created to do. Drive our region’s sports and entertainment strategy, enrich the quality of life, and deliver meaningful economic impact,” said Eric Engelbarts, Executive Director of the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance. “This event not only celebrates Pennsylvania’s deep wrestling tradition but also showcases how our community comes together to elevate both athletes and visitors alike.”
All winners of awards have been recognized in a special feature published in the November/December 2025 issue of Sports Destination Management. The entire article with full details on the winners listed below can also be found online.