Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors Meeting Release
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — Participation in Girls and Boys Wrestling will be across 13 weight divisions each beginning with the 2023-2024 season following approval of the Minnesota State High School League’s Board of Directors at its scheduled meeting at League headquarters.
The newly-approved weight divisions come as a result of an NFHS wrestling rules modification that requires each state association to select the number of weight classes for their state at 12, 13 or 14.
The board used information from a survey of member schools and a recommendation from the League’s Wrestling Advisory Committee in making their decision. The approval brings alignment in the weight divisions between both genders of participants when enacted next school year.
Boys wrestlers will complete the 2022-2023 season with 14 weight divisions and Girls Wrestling will conclude its second season as an activity with 12 weight divisions. In the 2002-2003 season, Boys Wrestling went from 13 to 14 weight divisions.
“The Board of Directors are so grateful for the valued input from the member schools and the thoughtful analysis from the wrestling advisory committee,” said Board President Troy Stein, the activities director at Edina High School. “This approved plan brings alignment, consistency and continued opportunities for student participants.”
The approved weight divisions for Girls Wrestling are: 100 pounds; 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235. And, the approved weight divisions for Boys Wrestling are: 107 pounds, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285.
In feedback via surveys from member schools this past November, there was a clear preference for 13 weight classes when boys wrestle boys or when girls wrestle boys. While member schools surveyed preferred remaining at 12 weight divisions for girls wrestling, 76 percent of the responses indicated openness to moving to 13.
The League’s Wrestling Advisory Committee recommended 13 weight divisions for girls threefold: It matches the recommendation for boys, girls wrestling doesn’t have a team component so there is no disadvantage for schools with a smaller number of participants and it allows for continued growth of the activity.
In a related wrestling approval, the Board of Directors affirmed a decision by the League’s Executive Committee for an updated competition model for Girls Wrestling at the section and state level. The updated models are reflective of the increased participation in Girls Wrestling. The increased participation, which had doubled in its second year as an activity, creates postseason expansion from two combined section tournaments to four on Saturday, Feb. 11.
Sections 1-4 will compete in two separate tournaments at Hastings High School and Sections 5-8 will do likewise at Sartell High School. The first- and second-place finishers in each weight class in each of the four section tournaments will advance to the state tournament. This doubles the number of state participants from the 2022 tournament. Each of the 12 weight classes will feature an eight-participant field competing for first- through sixth-place finishes on Saturday, March 4.
Complete details and schedules are available at www.mshsl.org/wrestling