2023-24 NFHS weight class changes

[barbwire]

Beginning next season, NFHS is revising weight class breakdowns with the following choices:

The weight class choices for BOYS will be as follows:

12 – 108, 116, 124, 131, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 190, 215, 285

13 – 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285

14 – 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285.

 

The GIRLS weight classes are as follows:

12 – 100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185, 235.

13 – 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235.

14 – 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235.

States must select one of the three sets (12, 13 or 14) of weight classes for girls and one of the three sets (12, 13 or 14) for boys. They cannot adopt all three sets and are not permitted to switch back and forth during the season.

I believe the current consensus among TN coaches is that TSSAA will choose to stay with 14 weight classes, but as of now still TBD.

No changes at all in the lower weights up to 138, but a log jam can be expected in the upper weights around 175 through 215.  the 4 most populous weight classes of recent years 170, 182, 195 and 220 will now have only 3 weight classes to compete in.  I anticipate 190 to be the toughest weight class for the next few years as we will have all the 182 and 195 lbrs all challenging for a spot in 1 weight class.

Other changes are all negligible, a couple lbs here or there.  I honestly thought NFHS would add a weight class between 215 and 285 and eliminate 106 to keep it at 14 weights.

I know KY already adopted the 14 weights shown above for the current 2022-23 season.

It will make for a very interesting season. especially for duals as bumping before usually only meant only giving up 7-10 lbs.  Imagine bumping from 175 to wrestle 190 or 190 to 215?

Researching what each state decides could be a deal breaker on choosing which out of state tournaments to attend.

Will Super 32, Beast of the East, Ironman, Kansas City Stampede, Knockout Classic, among others be 12, 13 or 14 weights? 

Not to mention several of the great out of state dual tournaments.

 

 

[werazzlin]

I would like to see an odd number of matches. 13 or 15 and yea would love to see a class between 215-285 maybe 235 or 240

[WrestlingGod]

10 hours ago, werazzlin said:

I would like to see an odd number of matches. 13 or 15 and yea would love to see a class between 215-285 maybe 235 or 240

100%

[Wrestlingfan22]

Why do they do this what's the purpose 

[cbg]

12 hours ago, werazzlin said:

I would like to see an odd number of matches. 13 or 15 and yea would love to see a class between 215-285 maybe 235 or 240

I would love to see the unlimited weight classification return.  We now have kids that are 6’5” and 310lb that are D1 football prospects with no place to wrestle.

[lumberjackmak]

3 hours ago, cbg said:

I would love to see the unlimited weight classification return.  We now have kids that are 6’5” and 310lb that are D1 football prospects with no place to wrestle.

Yeah, the Alcoa kid if I remember correctly had to cut weight all year to make it down in time for regionals and such. 

 

 

[lumberjackmak]

16 hours ago, barbwire said:

Beginning next season, NFHS is revising weight class breakdowns with the following choices:

The weight class choices for BOYS will be as follows:

12 – 108, 116, 124, 131, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 190, 215, 285

13 – 107, 114, 121, 127, 133, 139, 145, 152, 160, 172, 189, 215, 285

14 – 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285.

 

The GIRLS weight classes are as follows:

12 – 100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185, 235.

13 – 100, 106, 112, 118, 124, 130, 136, 142, 148, 155, 170, 190, 235.

14 – 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235.

States must select one of the three sets (12, 13 or 14) of weight classes for girls and one of the three sets (12, 13 or 14) for boys. They cannot adopt all three sets and are not permitted to switch back and forth during the season.

I believe the current consensus among TN coaches is that TSSAA will choose to stay with 14 weight classes, but as of now still TBD.

No changes at all in the lower weights up to 138, but a log jam can be expected in the upper weights around 175 through 215.  the 4 most populous weight classes of recent years 170, 182, 195 and 220 will now have only 3 weight classes to compete in.  I anticipate 190 to be the toughest weight class for the next few years as we will have all the 182 and 195 lbrs all challenging for a spot in 1 weight class.

Other changes are all negligible, a couple lbs here or there.  I honestly thought NFHS would add a weight class between 215 and 285 and eliminate 106 to keep it at 14 weights.

I know KY already adopted the 14 weights shown above for the current 2022-23 season.

It will make for a very interesting season. especially for duals as bumping before usually only meant only giving up 7-10 lbs.  Imagine bumping from 175 to wrestle 190 or 190 to 215?

Researching what each state decides could be a deal breaker on choosing which out of state tournaments to attend.

Will Super 32, Beast of the East, Ironman, Kansas City Stampede, Knockout Classic, among others be 12, 13 or 14 weights? 

Not to mention several of the great out of state dual tournaments.

 

 

113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 152, 160, 171, 182, 190, 205, 220 or 225, 285

 

I like something like this really. Finding a 106 for your team in most Duals is a free win. 

[cbg]

When will Tennessee make the decision as to what the weight classifications will be for 2023-24

 

[cobrakid8]

NFHS do they get these from talking to coaches around the nation or something because they just kind of seem idiotic, which speaking of NFHS is par for the course. But why not start at 110 instead of 106,07 or 08?  Start at 110 and go 110, 115, 120, 126, 132, 140, 148, 156, 165, 175, 190, 205, 225, 300 or unlimited or I like the idea of going 13 or 15 so we shouldnt have criteria anymore deciding important dual matches. 

 

[TalkingSense]

On 2/21/2023 at 2:28 PM, cobrakid8 said:

NFHS do they get these from talking to coaches around the nation or something because they just kind of seem idiotic, which speaking of NFHS is par for the course. But why not start at 110 instead of 106,07 or 08?  Start at 110 and go 110, 115, 120, 126, 132, 140, 148, 156, 165, 175, 190, 205, 225, 300 or unlimited or I like the idea of going 13 or 15 so we shouldnt have criteria anymore deciding important dual matches. 

 

Because there are freshman who are 90-100lbs. Giving up 20% of their weight isn't growing the sport. We need a 98 or 100lb then a 108-110. As well as a 240ish and then unlimited.

100, 108, 115, 123, 130, 138, 145, 156, 165, 175, 190, 210, 245, unlimited 

[cobrakid8]

11 hours ago, TalkingSense said:

Because there are freshman who are 90-100lbs. Giving up 20% of their weight isn't growing the sport. We need a 98 or 100lb then a 108-110. As well as a 240ish and then unlimited.

100, 108, 115, 123, 130, 138, 145, 156, 165, 175, 190, 210, 245, unlimited 

I wrestled back when it was 103 and half the time there is no one to fill that weight, sorry, there just isn’t that many kids that are 90-100, not anymore and we aren’t getting smaller as a nation. Also NFHS could care less about growing the sport just like TSSAA isn’t or they would be showing the wrestling for free with all the money they already make off wrestling. I’m sitting here trying to watch single A and they show those mats are being delayed. So if they wanted to actually grow the sport how about they care enough to show it! Also 106 is the highest % weight class forfeited throughout the entire year, also seems it was the class most had to cut down too which was shown by those that didn’t make weight for it.

Edited February 25, 2023 by cobrakid8

[Mason422]

On 2/25/2023 at 11:14 AM, cobrakid8 said:

I wrestled back when it was 103 and half the time there is no one to fill that weight, sorry, there just isn’t that many kids that are 90-100, not anymore and we aren’t getting smaller as a nation. Also NFHS could care less about growing the sport just like TSSAA isn’t or they would be showing the wrestling for free with all the money they already make off wrestling. I’m sitting here trying to watch single A and they show those mats are being delayed. So if they wanted to actually grow the sport how about they care enough to show it! Also 106 is the highest % weight class forfeited throughout the entire year, also seems it was the class most had to cut down too which was shown by those that didn’t make weight for it.

I will give you some push back about 106. Look at all of the large national tourneys. 106 is full and 220/285 are the smallest brackets. You can never grow a sport by cutting weight classes. Just my opinion 

 

if you don’t believe me look up brackets at Ironman, beast of the East, escape the rock, super 32, NHSCA and you will see they are far more little guys in those brackets than big guys.