PIAA Wrestling needs a facelift
Posted: December 14th, 2016, 2:34 pm
Varsity teams should have 9 or 10 weight classes. We are bloated at 14.
Junior High teams should have 13-14 weight classes.
Looking at recent results, I think this is something that must change. I have heard Penn Cambria and Claysburg each have less than 5 junior high wrestlers and those are schools I would consider wrestling schools. I don't think I've seen a full 18 man lineup in junior high in quite some time.
Many teams seem to have 9-13 spots full in the varsity lineups and there aren't really many backups. 10 weight classes would help to clean things up a little I think.
As a wrestling fan, I can't stand seeing one team forfeit one weight and then the next team forfeits the next weight. Just wrestle. In a Junior High match, which shouldn't be about winning, I saw that Everett and Mt Union wrestled recently. One team forfeited 100 and the other team forfeited 105. Those two kids should have wrestled instead of giving forfeits to each other as coaches probably tried to win the match as a team.
The UFC has 5 weight classes. College wrestling has 10 weight classes. I think you would have a lot better, more exciting product if you cut it back some. There are very, very few teams around who have full rosters every night.
You want better wrestling? Go to 8 or 9 weight classes.
110, 120, 133, 145, 157, 170, 183, 195, 210, 230+ would be awesome for 10 weights in my opinion.
If you wanted to go to 9 classes, I would do
115, 125, 135, 145, 160, 175, 190, 205, 230+
Good wrestling in PA is not the problem. The number of wrestlers is the problem. Cut the number of weight classes down and have at it. If nothing else, change AA to less classes than AAA.
Junior High teams should have 13-14 weight classes.
Looking at recent results, I think this is something that must change. I have heard Penn Cambria and Claysburg each have less than 5 junior high wrestlers and those are schools I would consider wrestling schools. I don't think I've seen a full 18 man lineup in junior high in quite some time.
Many teams seem to have 9-13 spots full in the varsity lineups and there aren't really many backups. 10 weight classes would help to clean things up a little I think.
As a wrestling fan, I can't stand seeing one team forfeit one weight and then the next team forfeits the next weight. Just wrestle. In a Junior High match, which shouldn't be about winning, I saw that Everett and Mt Union wrestled recently. One team forfeited 100 and the other team forfeited 105. Those two kids should have wrestled instead of giving forfeits to each other as coaches probably tried to win the match as a team.
The UFC has 5 weight classes. College wrestling has 10 weight classes. I think you would have a lot better, more exciting product if you cut it back some. There are very, very few teams around who have full rosters every night.
You want better wrestling? Go to 8 or 9 weight classes.
110, 120, 133, 145, 157, 170, 183, 195, 210, 230+ would be awesome for 10 weights in my opinion.
If you wanted to go to 9 classes, I would do
115, 125, 135, 145, 160, 175, 190, 205, 230+
Good wrestling in PA is not the problem. The number of wrestlers is the problem. Cut the number of weight classes down and have at it. If nothing else, change AA to less classes than AAA.