IGHSAU, Iowa PBS Extend State Championship Broadcasts Through 2031, Add Girls Wrestling

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union and Iowa PBS announced a multiyear extension that will keep girls state championship finals on public television and add girls wrestling to statewide broadcasts. The agreement, announced Jan. 29, 2026, begins this January and runs through 2031, with options to extend joint coverage through 2035.

Under the deal, Iowa PBS will continue to televise girls volleyball, basketball and softball state championship finals and will, for the first time, bring girls wrestling championships to television audiences across Iowa. The girls state wrestling championships, scheduled Feb. 5-6 in Coralville, will be the first event covered under the new agreement. Events will air on Iowa PBS and be available on Iowa PBS digital platforms, keeping viewing free and accessible to students, families, schools and communities in all of Iowa’s 99 counties.

Erin Gerlich, IGHSAU Executive Director, said, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Iowa PBS.” Gerlich added, “Iowa PBS has been a tremendous partner in elevating the Iowa Girl through its high-quality coverage, and we are excited to see that commitment extend to the Iowa Girls' State Wrestling Championships.” Andrew Batt, Iowa PBS Executive Director and General Manager, framed the renewal as continuity for communities: “For generations, Iowa PBS has played a vital role in bringing championship moments into homes across the state.” Batt also said, “Extending our partnership with the IGHSAU ensures Iowa student-athletes can compete for a state championship in front of a statewide audience.”

Local implications reach beyond broadcast schedules. Free statewide coverage lowers barriers for families who cannot travel to Coralville, and televising girls wrestling acknowledges the sport’s rapid local growth and the importance of equitable visibility for female athletes. For rural counties such as Buena Vista, seeing athletes on statewide television can strengthen school spirit, support youth participation in sports, and provide role models for younger students. Coverage also eases logistical strain on families and school programs that face travel, childcare and work-schedule challenges tied to attending distant tournaments.

The IGHSAU release emphasizes outreach and branding, including the repeated “I AM AN IOWA GIRL” motif, and lists the organization’s office at 5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 150, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Broadcasters and the IGHSAU have left some production details to be confirmed, including the precise scope of which wrestling sessions will be aired and on-demand availability windows.

For Buena Vista County viewers, the practical next step is clear: tune to Iowa PBS or its digital platforms Feb. 5-6 to watch the inaugural statewide broadcast of girls wrestling championships. The extension through 2031, with options to 2035, signals a longer-term commitment to keeping girls high school sports visible and accessible to communities across the state.