The Lancer Smith Memorial Tournament began in 2003 in memory of 18-year Palmer High School wrestling coach Lancer Smith. Lancer Smith was a former Big Sky Conference champion for Idaho State University, an alternate for the 1968 Olympic Games, and National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee. He coached Mat-Su wrestling teams from 1973-2000. The wrestling community really wanted to harness the spirit of promoting youth sports. In 2019, Mat-Su Matmen Wrestling Club partnered with Palmer High School and the Moose Boosters Club to start a Lancer Smith Memorial Youth Tournament. The youth tournament quickly grew and is helping to foster the growth of wrestling throughout communities across the state. These young athletes will be competing in the same building, next door to some of the toughest high school wrestling matches the state has to offer. We look forward to the tournament growing in the years to come and welcome any and all youth competitors.