A potential change in wrestling weight classes was addressed by the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors during its bimonthly meeting Thursday.
Thanks to a change in National Federation of State High School Associations wrestling rules, each state association may select the number of weight classes for their state at 12, 13 or 14.
League staff shared data received from member schools sharing feedback. Feedback from the Wrestling Advisory Committee will be shared and a decision is anticipated in February 2023.
For the first time separate weight classes will established for girls in high school wrestling, and it marks the first time that state associations will have a choice in the number of weight classes.
States must select one of the three sets (12, 13 or 14) of weight classes for girls and one of the three sets (12, 13 or 14) for boys. States cannot adopt all three sets and cannot switch back and forth during the season.
These are the proposed weight classes for boys:
12 weight classes: 108, 116, 124, 131, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 190, 215, 285.
13 weight classes: 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285.
14 weight classes: 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285.
These are the proposed weight classes for girls:
12 weight classes: 100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185, 235.
13 weight classes: 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235.
14 weight classes – 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235.
Football
A proposal has been submitted to seed the Class nine-player through Class 6A fields prior to the quarterfinal round.
Currently, state tournament quarterfinal matchups are a rotation of geographically connected section opponents. The proposal seeks to seed Nos. 1-8.
Also, an update was provided on Competitive Section Placement followed by District Football determination. League staff is anticipating receiving enrollment data from the Minnesota Department of Education which is the key information to start the process.
State boys basketball tournament
Williams Arena, Target Center and Concordia University will be used for the state boys basketball tournament March 21-25.
Because of a scheduling conflict with the Minnesota Timberwolves, there will be no games played at Target Center on March 22.
Prep Baseball Championship Series
The Board of Directors approved a venue change for the League’s Prep Baseball Championship Series.
The four-game championship event will be held Friday, June 16 at CHS Field in St. Paul. The weather date is Saturday, June 17.
The venue change was necessitated because of an extended Minnesota Twins homestand at Target Field. The event is planned to return to Target Field in 2024.
State speech
The Board of Directors also approved a date change for the state speech tournament to April 28-29.
The adjustment was made based on the date of the observance of the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.
Boys volleyball
The Board of Directors approved a board policy recommendation by the Adoption of Programs Task Force to create a path for the adoption of activities through the development of an emerging status process.
The approval process is in alignment with the directive of the board’s senior leadership in June that called for development of a clear process by which activities or sports may be added to the League’s programming.
The Board of Directors approved a proposal to classify boys volleyball as an emerging sport beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.
The board approved a proposal to send consideration of the boys volleyball proposed bylaw amendment directly to the Representative Assembly. The approved proposal includes the recommendation of boys volleyball becoming a fully sanctioned, interscholastic sport for the 2024-2025 school year.