Have often wondered about the "How comes" of the 14 weight brackets for HS wrestling. Some of the differientials between brackets do not make sense, especially since kids are getting bigger and stronger (nutrition, training, weight rooms). I would hope that the current brackets are based on some kind of medically accepted growth patterns---but I realyy do not think so. Someone, sometime, somewhere wrote them down and here we are.

Why not a few more brackets-with a more standard pattern. 103 to 112 is 9 pounds, or an 8.7% growth factor. 135 to 140 is only 5 pounds and a 3.7% growth factor. 160 to 171=11 pounds and 6.9%. 189 to 215 is 26 pounds and 13.8%. 215 to 285 is 70 pounds and 32% growth factor.

I would agree with keeping the 5 pound differientials from 125 through 152 because thats where the majority of kids will fall (remember the bell curve when you went to school and the teacher explained why you got that "F" grade). Back to wrestling, why not a 168 weight (5% increase), 176 bracket (5% increase), 185 bracket (5+%), 196 bracket (6% increase), 209 bracket (7%), 224 bracket (7%), 240 bracket (7%), 260 bracket (8%), 280 (8%). Would also recomend a 103 109, 115, 120 brackets in the lowest weights (vice 103, 112, 119).

My numbers result in 20 weight brackets. May be too many, may be not enough. But, makes more sense to me than the current system. Puts more kids on the mats in more weights, probably cuts down on cutting weight, and makes it easier for kids to go up or down to fit into a bracket.

I do agree with the upper weights(171,189,215,285)its hard for a 195-200 lb wrestler to cut to 189 and giving away 10-14 pounds cant help either, not to mention the 230 pound guy. But....

How many of the smaller schools could actually fill a 20 man varsity roster? That's giving up quite a few points in dual formats. There is a first year wrestling program at a school in the town I'm from and I don't think even combining the Var/JV that they could fill a 20 man roster, They are a small 321A team.

To me a dual record is a coaches record and has very little to do with akids record. If a team can not fill a weight class, so what. If walkovers are a big problem, do not count them in a wrestlers win/loss record.

There is no point in adding more upper weights when for the most part it is hard enough to get heavier wrestlers to go out for wrestling. For the most part the larger kids in schools will focus on football or will play basketball. Very hard to find big boys to fill the rosters as it is, just my opinion.

May be so, may be not. If I was a 230 pounder and knowing I would have to spot some blob 55 pounds, I probably would not go out for wrestling. Perhaps a different story if I only have to spot 10 pounds, or lose 6 pounds down to 224.

Losing 15 pounds to go down to 215 from 230 is not that hard. Heck losing 30 to go from 245 to 215 isn't that difficult. It just depends how bad the kid wants to compete at a better advantage size wise for them.

We are loaded with kids in the upper weights, it is in the 103-119 range that we have a hard time of finding kids.
Back in the 80's, when I wrestled for Socastee HS in Myrtle Beach South Carolina, the last weight class was HWT, no limit on maximum weight, and it came after 185. The weight classes were much different then. Our HWT weighed 215 and once wrestled a young man that weighed in at 340, who could barely fit his feet into wrestling shoes. Now that was a daunting task for our wrestler.

Supports my proposal for more brackets!!

I just change the title of this post to 20 Weight Brackets

some blob??? WOW!!!!
you have lots of class Mr. Contrarian

Did he win?

Thank you for the nice comment my12floz. Appreciate the compliment. And oh yes, Zlatnik (spelling) certainly was not a blob.

No, if I remember right he lost 3-1. The big kid was an o-lineman for Summerville HS, a powerhouse in football and Wrestling, and actually had very good footwork and balance.

Crossface and Redstorm. This post was about could and should HS weight brackets, In Kansas, be changed. The side comments about a 215 vs a 340 pounder in Carolina was not really germain to the post. I hate to say this I sometimes wonder if some of the posters on this page suffer from ADHD.

So might it be best to have 16 weight class with better distribution of weight

like


105
111
118
125
133
142
152
165
178
191
205
220
235
250
265
285

I'm going to have to go with no on the adding of additional weight classes. Schools have enough trouble filling out rosters as it is. In fact there was a certain state championship team from last year that didn't even have a 112 pounder this year.

I'd say the 14 classes we have now are plenty. I would however not be opposed to a redistribution of weights among those 14 classes.

I tired to get it to 14 but couldnt- didnt have the time to figure it out

14 to 16 weight classes is a good number. Some restructuring will be needed. Maybe spread the higher weights a little. Go above 285!

How many kids cant wrestle or dont wrestle because they are over 285

How many teams fill weight 215 and 285

How many teams fill 103- 112

All good numbers. Part of the discussion centers around several posters who believe that good wrestlers are being denied varsity opportunities, largely because their team has one or more good wrestlers in the same weight bracket, and good wrestlers (who can not win the wrestle off) are limited to JV. Other poster are worried about cutting weight and the physical effects on the wrestler. Another poster stated it is not difficult for a 245 pounder to lose down to 215. Maybe, maybe not. For big guys weight is power, not necessarily strength. A 30 lb weight (12++%) will require a lot of effort and commitment to first lose the weight, and second to spend the time in the weight room to gain the strength to replace the loss of power from the weight loss. Yes, it can be done. I think Nowak from STA is an excellent example. But, takle it from a fat boy all my life, it is difficult.

So, both more and smaller brackets may have some value in attracting more kids to the wrestling program--perhaps especiall for kids over 180 pounds. Kids are bigger today than in my days, and there are more bigger kids, so give them a slot they can fit into.

Yes, it is difficult to fill a 14 wrestler roster. Almost every school goes into several matches with open slots: big schools, medium schools, and I bet bunches of small schools. Perhaps our current system/brackets are accerbating the problem.