High school wrestling: Smaller teams welcome state trimming weight classes
SOURCE: www.nny360.com
September 02, 2020

 


Area wrestling schools are hoping the state's reclassification of weight classes will spur more competition and more excitement.

The Frontier League hosts some of the smallest schools that offer wrestling in New York State and they're hoping to get a boost from the trimming of a pair of weight classes. The NYSPHSAA's Central Committee approved the change by a 28-13 vote on July 30 at its annual meeting. High school wrestling will now have 13 weight classes, down from 15.

Many of the schools in the Frontier League and Northern Athletic Conference feature smaller rosters and forfeits have become as issue. A lack of competitiveness in duel meets prompted the state to make the changes. Beaver River coach Shane Roggie, whose team is in Class D, said it can be frustrating to compete in a duel meet that's already been decided by forfeits.

"It's kind of disheartening for some teams to know they've already lost before they even wrestle the match," Roggie said.

The new weight classifications in this two-year pilot program are at 102 pounds, 110, 118, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215 and 285 pounds. The previous configuration was 99, 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285. It's the first time that the state has reconfigured the weight classes since 2012.

"We got 50-70 kids in our high school and it can almost be impossible to fill out a lineup," Roggie said. "We've got three winter sports at Beaver River trying to find kids to fill their lineups."


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