Discuss

Reminders:
  • Proposal here is in it's original form as it was submitted. This is one proposal and thus one vote
  • Executive Board - Voted the following way:
    1. 11 Yes, 0 No - Board Yes

    Notes: As presented this proposal seeks to add 3 new weight classes to 8U Girls, 4 new weight classes to 10U Girls, 2 new weight classes to 12U girls, 3 new weight classes to 14U girls, and 2 new weight classes to HS girls.
    Rusty indicated that these were suggestive and that he would be open to Body input on adjustments to these. There was a least one other proposal for adding a 210 lb weight class and that is also present in this proposal so the other is duplicative. The board voted in favor of approving both proposals. but the State Body may wish to amend this with slight adjustments and we are prepared to facilitate this at that time.
  • 50%+1 State Body votes to pass this proposal


Quote
My Name is Rusty Miller and I represent Norton Wrestling Club. I have been involved with USA wrestling as a coach since 2017 and have been the head Coach of NWC since 2018. I have also been involved with coaching the district dual teams since the girl's division has been added to the event. In the past several years I have become aware of a need to adjust the current weight classes in the girl's division to help include some of the larger weights in the respective age divisions and to also maximize the participation of the girl's division. By adding these weight divisions, it will also create more parity to the boy's divisions as far as number of total weight classes per division. In the past adjustments have been made to upper classes of the boy's division to both compensate for the larger HWT's, and adding a 250lbs weight class to bridge the gap between the 210 and 285 weight classes. These have helped increase the level of competition in these weights, but also increased the number of participants. State Champions such as Gavin Schippers and Corbin Puga were required to wrestle up in age divisions when they were young because there were not weight classes and competitors at their age and weights. We are encountering the same instances in the 8U, lOU, and 12U girls that do not fit our current upper weight divisions that currently stand. It is in our best interest to expand our girls weight divisions to at least match that of the boy's divisions. Below are the current boys and girls weight divisions that are stated in our By-Laws, with the suggested modifications to the girl's divisions. The modifications being proposed would add three weights to 8U, four weights to lOU, 2 weights to 12U, three weights to 14U, and two weights to the High School divisions.

8U Boys 19 weight classes
40,43,46,49,52,55,58,61,64,67, 70, 73, 76,80,88,95, 110,125,140

8U Girls Currently 11 weight Classes, Proposal increases to 14 weight classes
40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75*, 80, 90, 100*, 110, 125, 140*. Adding 75, 100, 140 lbs.

10U Boys 21 weight classes
52,55,58, 61,64, 67, 70, 73, 76, 79,82,85,90,95, 100,110,120,130,150,170,190

10 U Girls Currently 13 weight classes, Proposal increases to 17 weight classes
50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 100, 110, 120*, 125, 130*, 140, 155*, 170*, 190*.
Adding 120, 130, 155, 170, 190 and removing 125

12U Boys 22 weight classes
64,68, 72, 76,80, 84,88,92,96, 100,105,110,115,120,130,140,150,165,190,215,240,265.

12U Girls Currently 17 weight classes, Proposal increases to 19 weight classes
65, 70, 75,80,85,90,95, 100,105,110,115,120,130,140,150,165,185, 205*, 235*.
Adding 205, 235

14U Boys 23 Weight Classes
75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, ,105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 175, 205, 235, 265.

14U Girls Currently 17 weight classes,
72, 79,85, 92,97, 101,105,110,115,119,127,136,145,165,185,200,235

New 14U Girls Proposal increases to 20 weight classes
75,80,85,90,95, 100,105,110,115,120,125,132,140,148,157,165,180,195,210,235
Creates parity from differently age divisions by going back to 5 lbs. increments until you get to the upper weights where it balances the large split in the upper divisions.

HS Boys 16 weight classes
100,106,113,120,126,132,138,144,150,157,165,175,190,215,250,285.

HS Girls Currently 14 weight classes, Proposal increases to 16 weight classes
95*, 100, 105 110 115,120, 125 130,135, 140 145, 150 170, 190, 210*, 235.
Adding 95, 210.

These are merely suggestions; however, the proposed changes would help close the gap in the disparity of the boy's weight classes from the girls and would at the same time help include a segment of the women's division that USAWKS is excluding. We have made accommodations to the boy's upper divisions and lower divisions to narrow the margin of weight in which the boy's division must wrestle to both protect them from giving up too much weight, and create an even, competitive wrestling environment. In a true maturity standpoint, we also need to consider that girls mature faster and at an earlier age then boys. By adding the upper weight divisions, it will allow some of the earlier maturing athletes to have a weight class. When we created the girl's weight divisions, they were suggestions to give USAWKS a starting point. I believe it is time to adjust the current weight platform for the girl's division. Thank You very much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Rusty Miller
NWC