The National Federation of State High School Association's hope for the increase of 10 pounds to the heavyweight limit is stated on the 4/10/06 immediate release from them currently on our home page:
"For the first time since 1987, the limit on the heavyweight class was increased from 275 to 285 pounds. Jerry Diehl, assistant director of the NFHS and rules committee liaison, said student-athletes are bigger than they were when the limit of 275 pounds was established 19 years ago. He said the committee made the change to encourage additional high school athletes to compete in wrestling.
Dave Gannaway, assistant executive director of the Illinois High School Association and chair of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee, noted that the additional 10 pounds will provide larger athletes, particularly football players, an increased opportunity to wrestle."
I think they need to increase the number of weight classes not the highest weight limit if they want to attract more of the bigger football type athletes into wrestling. There are too few classes after 160 up to 285: only four 171, 189, 215 and 285 (an average gap of over 30 pounds). That gap between 215 and 285 is 70 pounds. If they really want to increase participation of these larger athletic football players the way to do it would be to add weight classes. Most football players and coaches probably do not want to see the football athlete drop weight from the 230 pound plus area to 215 in order to make a weight class for their school's wrestling team if the 285 class is already filled at their school. I believe Texas has a 180 pound division and the NCWA has a 235 pound division.
