Iowa high school wrestling notes: Adjusted weight classes usher in new season

The boys’ wrestling season opens with some notable changes.

The most significant involves weight classes.

The National Federation of State High School Associations announced earlier this year it was allowing each state the chance to choose the number of divisions for competition. It marked the first time states had the ability to decide whether to offer 12, 13 or 14 weights.

The NFHS also established separate 12, 13 and 14 weight options for girls’ competition as well.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association opted to stay with 14 and that came with some adjustments to half of the weights from a year ago.

“The recommended weights were established based upon more than 215,000 assessments from the National Wrestling Coaches Association,” NFHS Director of Sports and Student Services and Wrestling Rules Committee liaison Elliot Hopkins said in a news release. “We are excited about these changes to weight classes in high school wrestling as we believe it will provide more opportunities for male and female student-athletes to be involved in this great sport.”

For boys, the first six divisions remain the same with 106 pounds, 113, 120, 125, 132 and 138. Alburnett Coach Clayton Rush, who was a lightweight in high school and a 125-pound NCAA champion at Coe, said he likes the decision, especially keeping the lightest weight the same.

“I’m glad Iowa chose the 14 weight class option, although it doesn’t surprise me that they did,” Rush said. “Also, I’m happy they kept 106 and didn’t raise it. My bias towards that is obvious, but also great to have, as not many other sports do you see a kid of that stature compete at a varsity level.”

Heavyweight remains a 285 limit and the 220 class returns to 215. The middle weights underwent the most transformation. The new weights slid down slightly, ranging from 144 to 190 instead of 145 to 195. Other new divisions are 150, 157, 165 and 175.

“Basically, it adds a weight in that middle (to) upper area,” Rush said. “I think it was appropriate for high school aged kids.”

According to an NFHS survey, wrestling is the seventh-most popular sport for boys, featuring 247,441 participants at 10,843 schools. Girls’ programs across the country have 21,124 wrestlers from 2,890 schools.

Rule changes for this season extended into match limits. An individual can now wrestle up to six matches in a single day, which increases by one. The limit for two-day tournaments are 10 matches.

Maquoketa Valley Wildcats meet in finals at West Delaware

It isn’t common for teammates to wrestle each other in the finals of a varsity tournament, but that was the case for Maquoketa Valley upper weight duo Aiden Salow and Brady Davis. The returning state medalists finished first and second at heavyweight Saturday at West Delaware’s Bob Muphy Invitational.

Last season, Davis placed seventh at 215 in the Class 1A state meet and Salow was seventh at 285. Davis bulked up for football in the fall and will complete his descent back down to 215 this week. West Delaware allows teams to add wrestlers to fill out brackets, so both were able to compete in the same weight class.

After a scoreless second period, Salow scored a reversal and three nearfall in the last 1:04 for a 6-2 decision in the championship match.

“They’re both pretty tough kids,” Maquoketa Coach Kurt Hatfield said. “They’re both best friends, too.”

They were joined in the finals by 190-pound runner-up Nathan Beitz, who placed third at state in 2023.

Clear Creek Amana’s strong dual start

Clear Creek Amana opened the season in impressive fashion. The Clippers started the season with back-to-back wins over Class 1A No. 3 Alburnett and host Cedar Rapids Prairie, which was previously ranked 11th in 3A.

CCA’s performance moved it up two spots to No. 15 in the IAwrestle.com 3A dual rankings.

CCA beat the Pirates, 37-33, receiving a 5-0 decision from 190-pounder Ethan Williams in the final bout. Heavyweight Vinnie Keller, Ryker Jones (144) and Ben Haughey (165) had pins for the Clippers.

Cale Nash (120), Jones, 150-pounder Jack Stevens, Kaden Phan at 175 and Williams all recorded pins in the 36-33 win over Prairie.

CCA (2-0) hosts 2A No. 2 Mount Vernon (1-0) Thursday.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com