rules change

I received a rules change survey. I had thoughts/questions about one of the possibilities. There was a question about changing girls classifications to match the boys. We currently have 4 boys classification and 2 girls classifications. Instead of moving girls to 4 classifications, why not divide girls into 3 classification? Then for state have the upper girls classification with 5/6A boys in Wichita. The middle girls classification with 4a boys in Salina. Then have the lower girls classification with 321A boys in Hays. I know it isn't perfect. But for some of those against the girls being thinned out too much by going to 4 classifications. A different alternative.

I do not have knowledge of the 4-1A classifications on the girls side. I also know that facilities are an issue that plays into this discussion. However, this is a copy of a proposal that I submitted through the KWCA. Currently it is significantly less likely to earn a state qualification or medal on the girls side in 5/6A.

Proposal: KSHSAA should separate the 5A and 6A classes for the Girls State Championship Series.

Logic: The number of female participants has increased and now justifies the separation of these two classes into their own Championship Series. The number of female participants is expected to increase in future years. Male participants from the 5A and 6A regional rosters currently have a 14% higher rate of qualifying for the State Championships. Male participants have a 5% higher rate of earning a State Medal. The separation of these classes will cause logistical issues, however, these athletes deserve recognition for their work. The pride associated with representing the schools and communities at the state level for these female athletes outweighs associated logistical issues.

Current Data:
Total 5A Regional Wrestlers Boys 412
Total 6A Regional Wrestlers Boys 430
Total Number of 5A and 6A Male Regional Participants 842
Total State Qualifiers Boys 448
Total State Medals Boys 168
Percentage of State Qualifiers Total 5A and 6A Boys 53%
Percentage of State Medals Total 5A and 6A Boys 20%

Total 5/6A Regional Wrestlers Girls 572
Total State Qualifiers Girls 224
Total State Medals Girls 84
Percentage of State Qualifiers 5/6A Girls 39%
Percentage of State Medals 5/6A Girls 15%

The regional wrestling numbers were taken from Trackwrestling KSHSAA Regional sites.

I all for splitting girls divisions. But, the argument I hear is they shouldn't match the boys because of numbers. Just in your post you said total of 842 boys 5/6A wrestlers and a total of 572 girls 5/6a wrestlers. Those numbers aren't close. To be exact that is only 61% of the total boys wrestlers. To closely match what we have in boys divisions. Why not split girls into 3 divisions instead of 4? Seems like a logical in-between approach that maybe everyone can get on board with.

Those are the totals that attended regionals for the boys or that attended regionals for the girls in 5A or 6A specifically.

I agree there needs to be reclassification but it can't happen in 4 groups the way boys is right now. Looking at numbers from regionals if we were to separate the girls post season like the boys it would look like this:

321A - Girls Regional (A-15 teams65 girls, B-10 teams 31 girls, C- 18 teams 77 girls, D-24 teams 121 girls) Total of 300 girls

321A - Boys Regional (A- 22 teams 125 boys, B-22 teams 149 boys, C-22 teams 171 boys, D-23 teams 160 boys) total of 605 boys

4A- Girls Regional (A- 15 teams 120 girls, B-20 teams 137 girls, C-12 teams 106 girls, D- 6 teams, 50 girls) total of 407 girls

4A- Boys Regionals (A-16 teams 158 boys, B- 15 teams 162 boys, C-16 teams 128 boys, D-16 139 boys) total of 587 boys

5A- Girls Regional (A- 14 teams 92 girls, B-6 teams 52 girls, C-10 Teams 86 girls, D- 3 teams 28 girls) total of 258 girls

5A- Boys Regional (East 201 boys, West 210 boys) 411 total

6A- Girls Regional (A-4 25 girls, B-10 teams 101 girls, C-7 teams 66 girls, D- 14 teams 120 girls) total of 312 girls

6A- Boys Regionals (East-210 boys, West 221 boys) 431 total


These numbers are not necessarily the schools that have declared to have wrestling just the teams that had kids entered for the post-season. Im not sure what the exact solution looks like, and maybe we are a couple years away from it being feasible.

I am the Girls Head Coach at Olathe North and I am not a fan of splitting the divisions more at this point. Looking at the numbers above they seem about where they should be or even a little high to me. There are already 40% of the girls qualifying for state and 15% winning medals, that seems about right to me. I think the bigger problem is on the boys side, where in my opinion we have too many divisions and that it is to easy to qualify and win a medal. in my opinion if we want to make wrestling better in Kansas, the solution isn't to make it easier on boys and girls to qualify and win medals, the more competitive the better. Growing up in Iowa where in the big class you had to be top 2 out of 8 teams at regionals or in the lower classes top 2 out of 16 it was such a big deal just to make it to state, kept all the athletes hungry and motivated them to really work hard. Not sure if that would have been the case if nearly 1/2 the wrestlers qualified for state.