The Panther Growl Wrestling Tournament, hosted by Jacob Lorentz and the Kentucky Wesleyan wrestling program, returns this April 18, 2026. The 4th annual edition of the tournament will take place in the Owensboro Sportscenter with a free wrestling clinic on the Kentucky Wesleyan campus on April 17.
“We are very excited to continue the Panther Growl wrestling tournament for the city of Owensboro, Kentucky Wesleyan, and all of the wrestlers who have made this event so popular, Coach Lorentz said. “I’d like to thank Visit Owensboro and all the staff at the Owensboro Sportscenter for making this event possible once again. We look forward to a great event and some awesome wrestling from athletes all over the tri-state area.”
Lorentz concluded his first season coaching the Panthers wrestling program and has been working with Visit Owensboro and the Owensboro Sportscenter to grow the Panther Growl tournament. This is the first time the competition will be held in the Sportscenter. Nearly 500 wrestlers have competed each year as the event has continued to expand.
“It has been a privilege to work with Coach Lorentz to carry on the tradition of the Panther Growl,” Lucas Daunhauer of Visit Owensboro’s sports department said. “Our local collegiate athletic departments do an excellent job of putting on unique events that bring athletes from all across the country into our community. We are excited to grow this event with Coach Lorentz’s experience and will continue to support the KWC wrestling program under his leadership.”
Registration for Panther Growl must be done through TrackWrestling and features weight classes in 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, 15U, 18U, middle school girls, and high school girls divisions. The cost of registration is $30 with $10 coach passes available.
Awards will be granted to the top four placers in each bracket with competition kicking off at 9:30 AM in the Sportscenter on Saturday, April 18. Admission to the tournament is $10 for adults and $5 for kids.
Lorentz and the Kentucky Wesleyan wrestling athletes will conduct a free clinic for all participants from 5 PM to 7:30 PM in Jones Gym on the Friday evening before competition, April 17. Weigh-ins for the event will take place then as well.
