Breadth speaks for the Bernese and north-eastern Swiss

Bernese Cantonal Wrestling Association (BKSV)

The Bernese ruled Swiss wrestling for more than a decade. The "Mutzen" were crowned king four times in a row. Kilian Wenger ascended the throne in Frauenfeld in 2010 as a 20-year-old out of nowhere, but all the more convincingly. Four years later, Matthias Sempach dominated at will in Burgdorf. In Estavayer 2016 (Matthias Glarner) and in Zug 2019 (Christian Stucki), the Bernese once again came out on top, even though others were the favorites before the festival. Now, after three years without a reign, the Bernese Cantonal Wrestling Association once again holds several trump cards.

The most promising candidate for the title of king is Fabian Staudenmann. The 25-year-old from Guggisberg has been the dominant wrestler in the last two years. This season too, the mathematics student is leading the way with five wreath victories. Behind Staudenmann, upstart Michael Moser has established himself as the number 2 in the division. The Emmental native, who has just turned 20, has won three wreath festivals, putting the likes of Staudenmann and Adrian Walther on his back in the process. Quite a few believe Moser is capable of doing the same as Wenger, who crowned himself as sub-federation champion in Frauenfeld.

With Adrian Walther, who has fallen short of expectations so far this season, and veteran Matthias Aeschbacher, who came so close to the title of king three years ago in Pratteln, the Bernese have other candidates with at least one eye on the crown.

Central Swiss Wrestling Association (ISV)

Joel Wicki is the man to beat in the Central Swiss sub-association. Due to a knee injury, the wrestling king from Pratteln had to take a break from competition for around a month. Wicki's return was all the more impressive. He won both the Central Swiss and the Brünig. Just like three years ago, the 28-year-old should pull the coals out of the fire in Central Switzerland.

However, only the second royal title for the largest sub-association - the first since Heinrich Knüsel in Sion in 1986 - was unable to hide the disappointing team performance in 2022. The Central Swiss won just seven crowns - the same number as the Northwestern Swiss. Another bitter defeat was suffered last year in Appenzell, where the best Central Swiss competitor at the Federal Jubilee Wrestling Festival was the young Lukas Bissig from Uri in 5th place.

In addition to Wicki, Pirmin Reichmuth is one of the top athletes in Central Switzerland. Anything is possible for the Zug giant, who lives in Muotathal. He proved this three years ago, when he was on course to become king after five rounds before two defeats prevented him from making the big time.

Behind Wicki and Reichmuth, it is above all the youngsters who have attracted attention this year. Bissig and Marc Lustenberger have each won a wreath and, like Samuel Schwyzer, are aiming for their first federal wreath. They will be joined by experienced athletes such as Joel Ambühl, Marcel Bieri and Sven Schurtenberger, who will have the two top wrestlers' backs.

Northeast Swiss Wrestling Association (NOSV)

The people of north-eastern Switzerland have been waiting for Jörg Abderhalden to win the title of king in Aarau in 2007. An eternity for a federation so accustomed to success, which was crowned king five times in a row from 1995 to 2007. Despite an enormously broad top and absolute top wrestlers, it has not been possible to return to the throne in recent years.

Samuel Giger in particular was always expected to follow in Abderhalden's footsteps. However, the Thurgau model athlete failed to hold his nerve as the top favorite in both Zug and Pratteln. At Kilchberger 2021 and Unspunnen 2023, however, the 27-year-old showed that he can handle pressure. Now he wants to complete the Schwinger Grand Slam in Mollis.

Behind Giger, the north-eastern Swiss have other promising candidates; the top is even broader than that of the Bernese. There is Armon Orlik, for one. As a 21-year-old at the time, the Grisons native was already in the final round in Estavayer, but lost this as well as the final round last year in Appenzell. There is no doubt that the man from Maienfeld has the potential to take the crown in Mollis. The same applies to 22-year-old Werner Schlegel, whose star rose last year. At the beginning of this season, the Toggenburg native was held back by an injury. Now, however, he is back to full strength. The group of favorites also includes the reinvigorated Damian Ott, a three-time wreath winner this season.

Northwestern Switzerland Wrestling Association (NWSV)

The Northwestern Swiss can call five royal titles their own. This puts them in third place, ahead of the Central Swiss Association. However, the last triumph was 67 years ago: Max Widmer became wrestling king in Fribourg in 1958. It seems unlikely that someone from the Northwestern Switzerland federation will triumph in Mollis. The top is too narrow.

Joel Strebel, who has recovered from a cruciate ligament rupture, and Nick Alpiger in particular are in contention for a top position. The latter achieved a brilliant result in Pratteln with 2nd place. Adrian Odermatt from Baselland was the best newcomer back then in third place. Sinisha Lüscher (19) and Marius Frank (20), who celebrated a co-victory and their first triumph at a wreath festival at the Aargau cantonal competition, are aiming for a similar result.

Southwestern Switzerland Wrestling Association (SWSV)

By far the longest wait for a royal title is in the Southwestern Switzerland division. Henri Wernli in Lucerne in 1926 was the second and to date the last wrestling king from the Southwestern Swiss. The prospects of ending the almost 100-year drought are poor. Lario Kramer is most likely to achieve a top ranking. The man from Fribourg has already won three wreath festivals this season. However, the competition at the Geneva, Neuchâtel and Valais cantonal competitions was manageable.

For the south-western Swiss, the main focus in Mollis is on the wreaths. Alongside Kramer, Romain Collaud from Fribourg is also aiming for this. It remains to be seen how far the Swiss Benjamin Gapany and Steve Duplan are after their injuries.