Wrestling weight classes change

High school wrestling will have a very different look starting next winter.

The National Federation of State High School Associations on Tuesday announced new weights for 10 of the 14 classes beginning with the 2011-12 season.

The 14 weight classes approved by the NFHS board of directors are 106 pounds, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220, and 285. Three of the middle weight classes – 145, 152, and 160 – were retained, but they will be seventh through ninth in the order instead of eighth through 10th.

The largest weight class, 285, also remained unchanged.

"The change in weight classes resulted from a three-to-four-year process utilizing data from the National Wrestling Coaches Association Optimal Performance Calculator," Dale Pleimann, chair of the NFHS Wrestling Rules Committee, said in a statement.

"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 7 percent of the wrestlers in each weight class."

This is the first major shift in weight classes in high school wrestling since 1988, when the lowest weight class was increased from 98 to 103 pounds. The only other changes since then were in 2002, when the number of classes went from 13 to 14 and the 215-pound class became mandatory, and in 2006, when the 275-pound class was increased to 285.

Among changes in wrestling holds, the Figure 4 around the head was ruled an illegal hold/maneuver. Previously, the Figure 4 was illegal around the body or both legs.

For news on other rule changes, visit www.nfhs.org.