A holiday season tradition is happening this week at the La Crosse Center. The sights and sounds of wrestling competition are found throughout the civic center, at the 43rd annual Bi-State wrestling tournament, which runs Sunday through Tuesday. More than 1,000 athletes from Wisconsin and Minnesota are competing — 70 boys teams and 80 girls teams. Bi-State got its start back in the 1980s under founder Dave Rudrud, who passed away last year. Current event director Jason Lulloff, Holmen High School’s activities director, said wrestlers like to compete in the event because it’s similar to the state. “You really do need one of those events that mimics the state tournament,” Lulloff said. “It’s a two-day weigh-in, it’s kinda got the finals vibe of like a state championship, so it is kind of peoples’ Super Bowl of wrestling.” Lulloff noted Bi-State is estimated to bring more than $1 million to the local economy this week. Among the fans catching the action on Monday was Ron from Pittsville, rooting for his grandson, a Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau wrestler. “I come to this tournament each year, ” Ron said. “Lot of good competition.” Ron added that he runs into “so many wrestling fans, friends that you’ve met throughout the years.” ...read more read less