ARIZONA REDUCES FROM 6 CLASSES TO 2 IN WRESTLINGIn Arizona there is 5A-1, 5A-2, 4A-1, 4A-2, 3A, 1A/2A.
They are combining all of the 5a and 4a schools into one division, and 3A, 2A/1A, into another.
OVERALL in the past 5A has been by far the toughest and deepest. But there have been wrestlers from 4A-1/3A that have been nationaly ranked.
I think that it is great for the State, and make it better state to wrestle in as a result. But its going to be a VERY RUDE AWAKENING for some kids.
Overall 5A is NOT "by far the toughest" You have Safford and Mingus being right up there with SS the past few years, and better than any of the east valley schools. You must be channeling the early part of the decade when this was the case but it hasn't been true in some time. This year Mingus (4A) would have likely won a combined state and would have had a good shot at SS the previous year. They did win Flowing Wells which has been the defacto overall state championship tournament.
As far as the wrestling change; it is a great idea. They did it for a couple of reasons; first was money, it is expensive to run all those state tournaments. Second they finally caught on to the absurdity of having so many "state champions" and wanted a state championship to be a competition of the elite.
Quote taken form themat.com talk forum.
http://www.usawrestlingnation.com/forum.php