The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Championships have begun in Washington, D.C., bringing some of the top collegiate wrestlers in the United States together for one of the sport’s most historic tournaments.

The 122nd edition of the championships is being held at Bender Arena on the campus of American University, marking the first time the institution has hosted the prestigious event.

The two-day competition features multiple sessions of matches across several mats, with wrestlers competing in individual brackets across the standard NCAA weight classes.

Teams from across the EIWA conference are taking part in the tournament, which serves as a crucial qualifying event for the upcoming NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

For many competitors, the primary objective is to win their weight class, while others are focused on securing one of the limited qualifying positions that grant entry to the national tournament later in March.

The EIWA is the oldest collegiate wrestling conference in the United States, having held its first championship tournament in nineteen hundred and five.

Over more than a century, the competition has produced numerous national champions and All-American wrestlers who have gone on to leave a lasting mark on the sport.

This year’s field includes several highly ranked competitors and returning national performers aiming to strengthen their credentials ahead of the NCAA championships.

Wrestlers from programs such as Lehigh, Navy, Drexel and other conference members enter the tournament with strong regular-season records and championship ambitions.

American University’s wrestling program is hosting the event as part of its continuing investment in the sport and its effort to showcase the nation’s oldest collegiate wrestling conference on a major stage in the U.S. capital.

Organizers say the venue has been prepared with multiple competition mats and additional facilities to support teams, officials and spectators throughout the weekend.

Beyond the individual titles, team scoring throughout the event will determine the overall conference champion.

The tournament also plays a decisive role in shaping the lineup of athletes who will represent the EIWA at the NCAA championships in Cleveland later in the season.

With athletes from across the eastern United States competing for conference titles and national qualification, the tournament remains one of the most significant fixtures in the collegiate wrestling calendar.