High school wrestling divisions could get a facelift

High school wrestling always has provided one arena where the smallest of competitors can match strength and skills on a level playing field.

However, there currently is a debate on the question, "How big should small be?"

The National Federation of State High School Associations is examining that question as it looks at possibly overhauling the 14 weight classifications in high school wrestling.

NFHS is expected to render its decision in May on whether to keep the current system, which ranges from 103 to 285 pounds, or adopt one of three proposals sent out to the state associations earlier this school year.

The NFHS wrestling rules committee voted on the proposals earlier this month, but the NFHS executive committee has to give final approval. The result of the rules committee's vote is embargoed until approved.

All three of the new options presented to the state associations in the questionnaire raised the 103-pound maximum weight for the lightest wrestlers. The maximum weight in the proposals for the sport's smallest were 106, 107 and 110 pounds. The ensuing 12 weight classes in the proposals also were raised from their current maximums (112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 161, 170, 189, 215) until ending at the current limit of 285 pounds.

Central coach James Brake said the proposal that started at 106 pounds most closely resembled the current structure and was the proposal of choice of about two-thirds of the Missouri coaches who responded to the questionnaire.

"I don't think it will motivate any kids that were at 112 to try to get down to 106," Brake said. "It's low enough to keep them where they need to be where they can stay healthy."

Jackson coach Steve Wachter and Notre Dame coach Marc Stevener said they like the current setup, and they think as far as competitors cutting weight, 112-pounders may see 106 as a more attainable goal than 103.

"Wrestling is a sport for all size athletes," Wachter said. "It kind of takes away from the smaller guys, but I kind of understand because there are a lot of forfeits that go on at that 103 weight class."

"Kids are going to take a chance," Stevener said. "That's the nature of the beast of our sport. Everybody is kind of jockeying for position to look what you can get to. Even though they've set guidelines with the weight loss, kids tend to push the envelope."

NFHS is looking to get more participants at the lightest level, thereby cutting back on forfeits. The local coaches all said they did not have a problem filling their own 103-pound slots this past season.

"I'm really comfortable with what we have right now, but at the same time, if the change is going to promote the sport and get more kids involved, then I'm all for it," Brake said. "The one part that I really like is the 220-pound weight class."

In the proposal that the Missouri coaches liked best, the weight classes had the following structure: 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285.

"I'm kind of a creature of habit. I kind of like it the way it was," Wachter said. "Of course once again for some kids it will be a great advantage and for the little guy it could be a disadvantage. Sometimes you got those guys that go through high school that are 100 pounds, and it's kind of a disadvantage because people are going to come from upper weights down. I guess they take a look at the entire United States and see where the balance of weights are."

Wrestling had the sixth largest participation among boys high school sports during the 2009-10 school year with more than 272,000 athletes. The goal of the weight distribution is to break the participants into 14 equal segments that contain 7.14 percent of the wrestling population.

With the majority of high school wrestlers in the 120- to 160-pound range, the middle classifications are filled readily and spaced the tightest, usually by about five pounds. Gaps exist on both ends, with the 103 class nine pounds removed from 112. The upper weights currently have bigger gaps, with 18 pounds separating 171 and 189, and 16 pounds between 189 and 215.

Wachter said he is receptive to a division of weights that cuts down on the gaps at the upper end, which the popular proposal appears to address with a 182-pound class between 170 and 195.

"There's a big gap between 171 to 189 and 215," Wachter said. "Those are some pretty big gaps, and I'd sure like to include some of those football players a little more."

Raising the 215-pound class to 220 sits well with Brake.

"We don't have a problem with anything in the middle ever," Brake said. "Every now and then the 215 can be a difficult spot for us. A lot of those football players might weigh 225, 226 and they're so worried about losing weight for football that they don't want to come out and be a 215-pounder."

Notre Dame, which resides in Class 2 in wrestling with a multiplier-enhanced enrollment of 686 students, lacks the football program of Class 4 Jackson, the biggest school in Southeast Missouri, and Class 3 Central, which has more than 1,200 students.

Stevener didn't have any problem filling the 103-pound spot with 95-pound freshman Caleb Heisserer, but he has no linebackers or offensive linemen for the heavier weights.

"At a school like ours, we're going to have a tough time filling those upper weights," Stevener said. "And that's what worries me. Smaller schools are going to have a tougher time. The large schools may get away with it. For us, it's hard enough for me to get a heavyweight."