"On a side note, the bottom end weight classes in the established divisions are recommended by the executive board and approved by our state body...they are what they are and all sanctioned tournaments should follow the guidelines. The division of weight classes is debatable and there are some recommended changes proposed by the executive board that will be considered at this years State Body Meeting in Salina. These proposed changes are tied to historical analysis."
Point taken sportsfan02. The main objective of the side note above was to point out the percentage of body weight difference which exists between the lighter side of any age division and the top when combining weights.
However, your comments bring up an interesting point. It is probably acceptable by the written rule to shift weight classes at sanctioned events...albeit a grey area in the rule. But it is unethical to do so without full disclosure and when done improperly it often leads to a percentage of body weight advantage for heavier wrestlers in the adjusted class. If the established weights are 110, 120, 130, 140...it would be acceptable to combine 110 and 120 to naturally group kids. But if you decide to wrestle your tournament with 113, 123, 133, 143 without prior notice it often leads to certain kids gaining an advantage over kids who have been maintaining the established weight classifications. I believe this practice is borderline unethical, even if it was done with no bad intentions in mind. At the very least if the allowances given exceed 1# and/or your tournament has an adjusted weight class from the onset, you should post those allowances and/or adjustments on the event flier.
Last edited by Mark J Stanley; 10/17/07 08:21 AM.
