The wreath festival season begins for the wrestlers on Sunday
Keystone
On Sunday, the wrestlers will kick off the 2026 wreath festival season with the Obwalden and Nidwalden cantonals. Where the top athletes meet and who to beat.
The traditional Berchtold-Schwinget in the Saalsporthalle in Zurich opened the wrestling season on January 2, which culminates in the Kilchberg Schwinget on September 5. In addition to numerous regional festivals, 38 wreath festivals are scheduled in between, most of them in May. An assessment of the balance of power.
Two powerhouses
Samuel Giger and Werner Schlegel, two men from north-eastern Switzerland, faced each other in the final round of the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival in Mollis last year. The fact that Armon Orlik, an athlete from north-eastern Switzerland, inherited the title of king after a defeat between the two shows the enormous density of top wrestlers in this sub-association. This year, too, there is likely to be no way around Orlik & Co. at festivals involving Eastern Switzerland. With Damian Ott, Domenic Schneider and Marcel Räbsamen, the second guard is also more than impressive.
The only division that can compete with the north-eastern Swiss in terms of both breadth and quality is the one from Bern. In Mollis, no other sub-association won as many wreaths (12) as the Bernese, who held their own against the north-eastern Swiss with the power trio of Fabian Staudenmann, Michael Moser and Adrian Walther. They are joined by Matthias Aeschbacher and Curdin Orlik, who can win at any festival. A battle of equals can be expected between the north-eastern Swiss and the Bernese.
A problem child and an upstart
The Central Swiss federation is only likely to intervene in this duel selectively, if at all. The resignations of King Joel Wicki and the Zug giant Pirmin Reichmuth weigh too heavily. The experienced Marcel Bieri and Sven Schurtenberger as well as the talented newcomer Lukas Bissig from Uri are expected to step into the breach. However, it is doubtful whether this will be enough to stand up to the competition.
The north-western Swiss have nothing to hide. In addition to the established Nick Alpiger, Adrian Odermatt and Joel Strebel, who is currently still injured on his knee, they have two promising talents in Sinisha Lüscher and Marius Frank, who won the federal wreath in Mollis and can continue to cause a stir with their spectacular style of wrestling.
The south-western Swiss are also in the underdog role this season. In Mollis, Benjamin Gapany won just one wreath – Romain Collaud and Lario Kramer missed out on the oak leaves they were aiming for. The SWSV has only achieved a worse result at a federal event twice before.
Several giant meetings
The cards will be revealed for the first time at the Northeastern Swiss Federation Festival (June 28), when Fabian Staudenmann makes a guest appearance in the territory of King Armon Orlik. Conversely, Orlik, Samuel Giger and Werner Schlegel want to ensure a guest victory at the Bernese Cantonal Festival on July 5 in the Wankdorf.
As usual, the mountain festivals are well attended. In the natural arena on the Brünig (July 26), the Bernese and Central Swiss traditionally compete against each other. This year, the north-eastern Swiss association will enjoy hospitality on the pass between the cantons of Obwalden and Bern. With Orlik, Giger and Schlegel, it is traveling with its figureheads. The Bernese will compete with Staudenmann, Aeschbacher and Curdin Orlik, while the hopes of Central Switzerland rest on Bieri and Bissig.
On Schwägalp (August 16), the north-east Swiss and Bernese will also meet. Giger, Orlik, Ott, Räbsamen and Schlegel will be up against Aeschbacher, Moser, Staudenmann and Walther.
The highlight of the season on Lake Zurich
The big highlight of this year’s season is the Kilchberg Schwinget on September 5. It has been held every six years since 1927. Only 60 wrestlers have the right to compete, which means that the density of top athletes is significantly higher than at the ESAF (274 wrestlers) or the Unspunnen (120).
At the last showdown above Lake Zurich, which was postponed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, a trio came out on top – a first in the almost 100-year history of the festival with a federal character. Samuel Giger and Damian Ott from north-eastern Switzerland shared the victory with Fabian Staudenmann from Bern. All three are among the favorites again this year – along with many others.