mmiille

I don't like it.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/14622167.html

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OGGoldy

I can see both sides of this. I know when I was wrestling just a few years ago, there was almost always at least a forfit for each team. If this is the answer to stopping from dropping teams, than I guess I would support it.

Spider

Seems like it wasn't so long ago that the National Federation added 215. I guess you can't please everyone.

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therick

I don't have a problem with it. HS wrestling in this country had 13 weight classes for years. And back then many high schools were 3-4 deep at every weight.

I'm also a fan of going back to only placing to the top 6 in tournaments with 16 or fewer entrants. Which includes the state championships here in Ohio.

I know some will say that it's fewer opportunities. But, what's wrong with teaching today's youth that they may have to actually work to win the starting spot on varsity? Instead you've got kids who are starting simply because they're the only kid on the team in that weight. We're not talking about t-ball here where everyone gets to play.

ccbig

I think this hurts the small athlete.

I'm a parent of a 9th grader who has wrestled varsity all season at more then 5 lbs. under the 103 weight class.

Wrestling is one of the very few sports options for a dedicated small sized athlete to compete against other athletes of similar sizes.

The real problem is lack of wrestling support within schools and the promotion of the sport from a youth level upward. Programs must be willing to combine in the short run to fill all the weights. Rebuild and promote youth wrestling to increase the numbers of athletes to eventually grow the numbers of athletes available to fill all of the weight classes when they age to compete at the High School level.

Lastly, it is a mistake to be the only state within our region to make this change. At a minimum Minnesota should not make these kinds of changes without the cooperation of surrounding states. This move will hurt our athletes in state to state competition and national competition in my opinion.

Vetdad

[Well what about moving the wt. classes as proposed, but add a wt. class between 215 & hvwt. Leaving same amt. of wts. but just making the playing field more equal at the upper wt. by adding one there.

WhippetGrappler

I concur with my pal here from the great state of Ohio. We only had 13 weight classes and only 6 placers when I wrestled many years ago.

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ccbig

The majority of forfeits are coming at high weight classes not smaller ones.

The stated reason this change was proposed is because schools are having problems filling all the weights.

Why remove classes that are mostly full? Doesn't make sense and it hurts the small wrestlers!

The mid and smaller weights are the most competitive with the most number of participants. Splitting higher weights may further add to the problem of open weight classes.