At the KSHSAA Executive Board meeting held on June 12 there were three major changes approved for the 2008-09 wrestling season. These changes were the results of recommendations made to the KSHSAA by the special committee on weight loss.

1) Change in policy re: when the weight-loss permit is necessary – Proposed change was adopted. The change is that there will be only one trigger point as to when the wrestler will have to obtain a weight loss permit – if they are going to a weight class that would require them to lose more than 8% of their alpha weight.

2) Change in policy re: the Friday night weigh-in windows for wrestlers in Class 4A and 3-2-1A regionals – Proposed change was adopted. The change gives a wrestler two “windows” that he can do his Friday night weigh-in at the 4A and 3-2-1A regional. The first window is for one hour starting when the last match in his weight class is concluded – the second window is during the 285# weigh-ins. This will be consistent with the Friday evening state weigh-ins. A wrestler can elect either window for their weigh-in but not both. This is also consistent with the state weigh-in process.

3) Change in policy re: the weight classes a wrestler can compete in following their certification. This proposed change was also adopted and is of the three the MOST significant with respect to policy change. An example is the best way to explain the change. With this change a wrestler may certify at one weight class and wrestle TWO weight classes above and not break their certification SO LONG AS they only weigh up one weight class above certification. Example – Wrestler is certified at 140#, he can weigh in at 145# and wrestle in either 145# or 152#. He can not weigh in more than 145# without breaking his 140# certification. There is still the requirement that a wrestler must have at least one-half of his total weigh-ins at his certified weight to wrestle that weight in the regional tournament.


Another wrestling item changed was to increase the fee paid to official who work the 4A and 3-2-1A regionals. Concerns re: both the number and quality of officials assigned to these regionals prompted a request to increase the fees paid to these officials with the hopes it would encourage more of them to make themselves available for those tournaments.

Greg Mann
Norton

As received from Rick Bowden; KSHSAA