At Fila cadets in Akron, OH last week...there were 54 entrants from 187.25 and up. If those contestants were competing in the new HS weights a few might drop to 182, the rest would be 195, 220, or 285. (4weights). In comparison there were 96 entrants in just two weights of 119 and 127.25. I understand this is freestyle wrestling and not in season HS wrestling but I bring this up to make two points.
1. There are more kids wrestling in the lower and middle weights that lost a weight, than the upper weight classes that gained one.
2. This change in HS weights caters to the bigger weights that clearly have less depth and less kids that are "hardcore" wrestlers.
Fila cadet is Fr, So and alot of Jr's. Older Jr's and Sr's could add some to the upper weights. So I added the Fila Jr's numbers in as well even though those include young men all the way up to 20.
total for 119 and 127.25 in cadet, and 121 and 132 in Jr's (2 weights each) was 156 wrestlers.
Total for 187 and up in cadet, and 187 and up in Jr's. (3 wieghts in each) is 141.
So even including 19 and 20 years college kids the two lower weights where the new HS weights have targeted for a loss, have 10% more wrestlers than 3 higher weights where a weight class was added. And this is comparing 2 weights to 3.
Bottom line the 125-160 classes are the most competitive, deepest and have the most total participants. It makes no sense to cater to kids that have not in most cases put in the 10 years plus of hardcore dedication to the sport, but rather are recruited from the football team to fill the upper weights. Sure there are exceptions, but for every kid 200 plus that is a hardcore wrestler there are 10 140 pounders that are that same level of dedication.
There is nothing we can do about it now. We live with it and go on, but don't tell me this is good for the sport and those kids that focus on wrestling.
JMO...with a few stats. Not trying to be mean, just protective of the kids that I have seen put their blood sweat and tears for years into a sport only to see opportunities given to kids that in alot of cases are participating as their 2nd or 3rd sport.
