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2020-21 High School Wrestling Rules Changes Address Weigh-In Procedures, Hair-Length Restrictions

Courtesy of the NFHS – Link
As the result of a concerted effort to accommodate the growing number of female wrestlers, the 2020-21 high school wrestling rules changes are headlined by significant adjustments to weigh-in protocol and appropriate hair length requirements. 
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee met April 5-6 and recommended 11 rules changes to take effect next school year. In accordance with current health safety guidelines, the rules meeting was held in an online format. All rules revisions recommended by the Wrestling Rules Committee were approved by the NFHS Board of Directors. 
“These rule changes are some of the most prolific modifications in the history of high school wrestling,” said Elliot Hopkins, NFHS director of sports and student services and liaison to the Wrestling Rules Committee. “The rules committee made necessary, drastic changes to attract more young people to our sport without sacrificing the health and safety of the participants.” 
The weigh-in procedure was altered through a combination of changes to Rule 4, Section 5 (Weighing–In) of the Wrestling Rule Book. Following an amendment to the legal uniform laid out in Rule 4-1-1c, which now permits female wrestlers to wear a form-fitted compression shirt that completely covers their breasts in addition to a one-piece singlet and a suitable undergarment, Rule 4-5-7 was rewritten to require that a legal uniform be worn during weigh-in and that no additional weight allowance be granted. An additional clause prohibiting shoes and ear guards during weigh-in was also written into 4-5-7.  
Weighing-in with a legal uniform allowed the Committee to break down more gender barriers with subsequent changes to Rules 4-5-1, 4-5-2 and 4-5-4. Previously, weigh-ins consisted of shoulder-to-shoulder lineups of each contestant that: were separated by gender (4-5-2), took place a maximum of one hour prior to competition (4-5-1) and required supervision by a referee of each respective gender (4-5-4).  
With the institution of the legal uniform (one-piece singlet or two-piece), male and female wrestlers are now able to weigh-in together in the same lineup, allowing gender-specific language to be removed from all three rules. Additionally, the form-fitted compression shirt offers females a more suitable uniform for post-weigh-in skin checks, which are typically done by male officials. 
“The change to the weighing-in process is remarkably timely, as schools have struggled in the past to identify adult females to weigh-in the female wrestlers,” Hopkins said. “This action accommodates transgender children as well; it respects their rights and dignity and addresses any modesty concerns for any affected children. We anticipate that the entire weigh-in process will be expedited and more efficient.” 
Significant changes to the hair length rule (Rule 4-2-1) were also linked to the committee’s focus on inclusion. Previously, a wrestler’s hair could not “extend below the top of an ordinary shirt collar” in the back, below earlobe level on the sides or below the eyebrows in the front. Those confinements, along with the requirement that a hair cover be used for hair that exceeded said limitations, were deleted. Considerable support for this rule change from coaches and officials was generated by an initiative of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, which successfully experimented with relaxed hair restrictions this past winter.  “Removing the hair–length rule is a monumental change,” Hopkins said. …. rest of story and rules at https://portal.nwcaonline.com/articles/NWCA_News/2020-21-High-School-Wrestling-Rules-28-4-2020

April 28, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NC STATE WRESTLING: Wolfpack Announces Top-10 Signing Class

Wolfpack inks nine in 2020 class, third straight class ranked in top-20
RALEIGH, N.C. – Coming off a second straight ACC Championship and a No. 3 final ranking in the NWCA Coaches Poll after an undefeated dual season, the NC State wrestling team has inked a top-10 signing class to join the squad for the 2020-21 season.
NC State’s recruiting class was ranked eighth nationally by FloWrestling. It marked the third time in the last five years the Wolfpack has been ranked in the top-10 nationally, and this is the third straight class ranked in the top-20 by FloWrestling. “It might be one of the best ever, as far as the mentality, work ethic, the quality, total package of kid that you want,” said head coach Pat Popolizio. “It’s very low-risk bringing these guys in, both academically and lifestyle. It’s up to those guys to decide who’s going to be the guy at their weight, but I know they’ll elevate our program on and off the mat.”
Below are bios on the nine signees:
Anthony Noto
125 pounds
Lima N.Y. • Lima HS
Prep: Four-time state champion, he is the school’s first state champion
     Named NYSPHSAA Most Outstanding Wrestler as both a junior and senior.
            Won state title at 120 pounds as a senior, 113 pounds as a junior, 106 pounds as a sophomore and 99 pounds as a freshman.
–               Career record of 174-6.
–               Three-time Monroe County champion and four-time sectional and Super sectional champion. MOW at Monroe County Championships as a junior and senior.
–               Also two-time All-Greater Rochester Division II Wrestler of the Year.
          Three-time All-American (Forgo, World Team Trials and Super 32).
Rankings: #112 overall recruit and #11 at 120 pounds by TheOpenMat
#9 at 120 pounds by FloWrestling
#12 at 120 pounds by InterMat
Ryan Jack
141 pounds
Danbury, Conn. • Danbury HS
Prep:
–               Four-time Connecticut state champion. Two-time Connecticut Wrestler of the Year.
–               Three-time New England champion, runner-up as a freshman. –               State champion as a junior going a perfect 47-0, and named Connecticut Wrestler of the Year. Also won his third Class LL title and third State Open championship.
–               Became school’s first national champion after taking first place at the 2019 NHSCA national championships at 126 pounds. Was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.
–               2019 NHSCA champion and four-time All-American.
–               Super 32 runner-up as a junior in 2018. 2018 Journeymen Classic champion.
               Wrestled at the 2019 Who’s #1, the first athlete from Connecticut to take part.
–               Younger bother of former Wolfpack three-time All-American Kevin Jack (141 pounds) and also former teammate of 2020 ACC Champion Jakob Camacho.
–               Trains at Empire Wrestling Academy along with fellow signee A.J. Kovacs. …. story & rest of the list at https://gopack.com/news/2020/4/27/wrestling-packwrestle-announces-top-10-signing-class.aspx

April 28, 2020 Posted by | Uncategorized | Leave a comment