News and features about USA Wrestling and the entire sport of wrestling are posted on a daily basis on
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WEIGHT CLASSES CHANGED IN HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING INDIANAPOLIS — The most significant changes in weight classes in high school wrestling in 23 years will take place in the 2011-12 season. In its April 4-6 meeting in Indianapolis,
the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee approved an upward shift of the weight classes, beginning with the 103-pound class moving to 106 pounds, which resulted in new weights for 10 of the 14 classes. The changes in weight classes, along with 17 other rules revisions, were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. The 14 weight classes approved by the committee for 2011-12 are as follows: 106 (pounds), 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285. Three middle weight classes – 145, 152 and 160 – were retained, although they are 7-8-9 in order now rather than 8- 9-10. The largest weight class (285 pounds) remains unchanged as well. “The change in weight classes resulted
from a three-to-four year process utilizing data from the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Optimal Performance Calculator,” said Dale Pleimann, chair of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee and former assistant executive director of the Missouri State High School Activities Association. “The rules committee was able to analyze data from almost 200,000 wrestlers across the country, with the goal to create weight classes that have approximately seven percent of the wrestlers in each weight class.
“Throughout the process, each state association was kept completely informed and was provided multiple opportunities
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for input. The results of the last survey of each state association indicated that the majority of states favored a change, and the committee listened and acted accord- ingly.” The last wholesale shift in weight classes occurred in 1988, when the low- est weight class was increased from 98 to 103 pounds. The only other changes since then were in 2002, when the num- ber of classes went from 13 to 14 and the 215-pound weight class became manda- tory, and in 2006, when the 275-pound class was increased to 285 pounds. Among changes in wrestling holds, the
Figure 4 around the head has been ruled an illegal hold/maneuver. Previously, the Figure 4 was illegal around the body or both legs.
USA WRESTLING FACEBOOK PAGE HITS 125,000 FANS USA Wrestling's Facebook page has
eclipsed another milestone. After breaking the 100,000 fan thresh-
old on March 1, USA Wrestling's leading social media presence has grown by 25 percent in the seven weeks following. As of April 15, USA Wrestling's Facebook page broke the 125,000 fan mark. In addition to posting daily news updates, the USA Wrestling Facebook page also gives fans quick access to mul- timedia initiatives, like USA Wrestling Weekly, USA Wrestler magazine and fea- tured live webcasts from USA Wrestling events.
According to
SportsFanGraph.com,
USA Wrestling's Facebook presence ranks third behind all listed National Governing Bodies, behind the USTA and USA Hockey. Back in March, Kansas eighth-grader
A.J. Cooper became the 100,000th fan of the USA Wrestling Facebook fan page.
TEAM INDIANA WINS NWCA-USAW NATIONAL SCHOLASTIC DUALS Displaying total domination in the lower
weight classes, Team Indiana Gold won the NWCA-USA Wrestling National Scholastic Duals April 15-16 at the Allen Athletic Center on the campus of Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana. Six Indiana lightweight wrestlers com- pleted the event with undefeated 7-0
records during the two days of competi- tion: Nathan Boston (103), Mason Todd (112), Jared McKinley (125), Neal Malloy (130), Devon Jackson (135), and Jason Tsirtsis (140). Only Texas standout Nick Herrmann (119) was able to record a vic- tory against an Indiana lightweight, post- ing a decision over Kyle Ayersman (6-1) in a battle of nationally ranked wrestlers. Mason Todd, Indiana’s 112-pounder, received the Outstanding Wrestler award. In the championship match, Indiana defeated defending champion Illinois 38- 20. Indiana posted victories over Pennsylvania 49-7 and Colorado 50-10 in other championship pool matches. Runner-up Illinois scored wins over
Pennsylvania 37-18 and Colorado 38-18. Team Colorado finished an outstanding tournament performance by taking 3rd place with a 34-30 victory over 4th place Pennsylvania. Other outstanding performances were recorded by unbeaten wrestlers Kentucky’s John Fahey (130), Virginia's Jacob Crawford (145), Indiana’s Tyler Kral (215), and Delaware’s Patrick Davis (150).
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