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ALL ITEMS ARE SUBJECT TO BOARD APPROVAL
This is the following email that came from IGHSAU’s Erin Kirtley:
Here is a proposed* FAQ sheet that I will be sharing with our IGHSAU Board of Directors this week for their review and feedback. Please use this as general guidance, as some of you have asked great questions over the past few weeks in attempts to set up programs at your school for next year. These are all items (plus many more) for our advisory committee to review and weigh-in on in March and our IGHSAU Board of Directors to ultimately vote on in April.
We realize there are many more items for consideration and discussion that are not included in this initial information. Fear not, it will ALL be addressed if it hasn’t already been. This FAQ sheet contains what we feel are some of the most essential details for the formation of girls wrestling programs for those ready to move forward. Please understand that our proposed information on this sheet is ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
We realize there are many more items for consideration and discussion that are not included in this initial information. Fear not, it will ALL be addressed if it hasn’t already been. This FAQ sheet contains what we feel are some of the most essential details for the formation of girls wrestling programs for those ready to move forward. Please understand that our proposed information on this sheet is ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Projected Timeline 2022-2023
January 2022: IGHSAU Sanctioning Announcement
February 2022: Communication to membership regarding updated information, advisory committee, and listing for commissioner of official’s position
February 2022: In person communication available at IHSAA state wrestling tournament, release of FAQ sheet
March 2022: Advisory committee appointed, conducts initial meeting
March 2022: Updates available at IHSADA convention
April 2022: Season proposal finalized by the IGHSAU Board of Directors
April 2022: Final plans communicated to member schools
August 2022: IGHSAU girls wrestling sport manual mailed to schools
September 2022: All preseason information available
October 31, 2022: FIRST DATE OF GIRLS PRACTICE
November 7, 2022: Last date to declare cooperative sharing for girls wrestling
November 14, 2022: FIRST DATE OF GIRLS COMPETITION
December 2022: Regional site location/assignments released
January 28, 2023: *Possible* Regional state qualifier
February 2 & 3: Individual state tournament
Girls Wrestling FAQ
- Will girls wrestling be Folkstyle or Freestyle?
- Folkstyle. This follows NFHS guidelines and current practice of IHSAA wrestling.
- How many girls does my school need to have a program?
- One. We will be rolling this season out with a focus on wrestling as an individual sport. If programs can support numbers for full teams, they may compete in dual events. There will not be a state team dual postseason competition at this time.
- How many classes will there be for girls wrestling?
- One. Currently, the number of participants in the sport allows for a single classification set-up. This will be re-evaluated annually as the sport grows.
- When and how does a school indicate that it will be offering a girl’s wrestling program for the 2022-2023 school year?
- There is already a process in place for schools to declare their intent to host programs each year, during membership registration. This is due by July 31st before each school year begins.
- Can schools set up cooperative sharing agreements in girls wrestling?
- Yes, and because there is single classification, the host school will not have to take on enrollment numbers of the sharing schools.
- When do cooperative sharing agreements need to be declared?
- Cooperative share agreements do not need to be officially decided until approximately one week after season starts. November 7th will be the deadline for the 2022-2023 season.
- If a school is in a current co-op for boys wrestling, will girls wrestling fall under that same cooperative agreement?
- No. Each cooperative agreement specifically lists the sports that are included. Therefore, any girls co-op would require new paperwork.
- Can a school have one coach that coaches both the boys and the girls?
- Yes. It will be similar to cross country where a school may have the same coach for the boys and the girls even though they are separate teams.
- Can the girls and the boys practice together?
- Yes. Boys and girls are allowed to practice with each other at this time. Discretion for this matter will fall to local control.
- Can a female wrestler compete against boys?
- No. Now that the IGHSAU has sanctioned girls wrestling, females will compete against females only.
- Do the sanctioning guidelines for High School girls wrestling also apply to Junior High girls wrestling?
- Yes, separate programs are necessary for junior high programs to promote girls vs. girls only in competition. Local control still dictates JH length of season, start/end dates, etc. Girls may still practice with boys. Sharing a coach is also local control. An event may consist of a girls’ division and a boys’ division at the same location.
- Can junior high wrestlers practice with high school girls?
- Yes. Practice for JH/HS wrestlers is under the discretion of local control. Junior high is considered 7th and 8th grade. Not 6th grade.
- Can junior high wrestlers compete with/against high school girls?
- No. Junior high wrestlers may not compete for/against HS girls teams during the sanctioned season.
- When will the girls wrestling season start?
- Anticipated date of first practice for girls wrestling will be Week 18 of the Unified Calendar. For the 2022-2023 season, this will be Monday, Oct. 31st, 2022.
- When will the first date of competition begin for the girls’ season?
- The first date of competition will be November 14, 2022.
- When will the IGHSAU State Wrestling Tournament take place?
- Anticipated date for the first IGHSAU state tournament will be Thursday, Feb. 2nd– Friday, Feb. 3rd, 2023.
- Where will the IGHSAU State Tournament be held?
- That site has not yet been determined. The IGHSAU is currently taking bids from venues and will make that announcement in spring of 2022.
- Will there be a qualifying meet for the state tournament?
- Framework for this event is still being decided.
- How many competition dates will be allowed?
- Same competition dates as IHSAA. This can be in the format of duals, scrambles, or tournaments.
- Can a girls event coincide with a boys event?
- Yes. As long as they are in the system as different events (Trackwrestling IHSAA vs. IGHSAU) they can run together (but separate).
- What weight classes will be used for the 2021-22 season?
- That has not yet been determined. Here are NFHS options for consideration:
- NFHS 12 Wt Classes 100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185, 235
- NFHS 13 Wt Classes 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235
- NFHS 14 Wt Classes 100. 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235 **Heavyweight class (TBD) may be added in if data supports **