The National Federation of High Schools is asking wrestling coaches to consider changing the current weight classes for wrestling.  The Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association is polling head coaches to get their opinion.

Overall the changes are minor; there is a slight raise in weight for all classes which could help prevent cutting weight, a possible health risk for wrestlers.

Coaches and players have mixed feelings about the changes.  Coach Derek Manon feels that the new option has some positive aspects but prefers the current weight set-up.

“Although they are almost the same up until the 135/138 weight classes and they add an extra weight on the top end of the weights, which is a big plus, the fact that they are essentially eliminating one weight class from 135 – 160 is a big negative,” Manon said.

Manon feels that since the majority of wrestlers are in the 135-160 pound range, by eliminating a weight class within that range is counterproductive.

Senior Alex Hysong has a similar view, saying that the upper weight class is the only one that really benefits. He thinks the changes are unnecessary because so few people actually wrestle in that weight class.

The proposed changes are as follows:

Current         Option A

103             106

112             113

119             120

125             126

130             132

135             138

140             145

145             152

152             160

160             170

171             182

189             195

215             220

285             285