PIAA Advances Cut in Weight Classifications Proposal
MECHANCISBURG – Scholastic wrestling’s governing body, the PIAA, is moving ahead at cutting the number of weight classes for the 2020-21 season. The proposal received a unanimous approval on second reading at the organization’s Monday June board meeting.
As proposed by the PIAA wrestling steering committee, the current 14 weights would be reduced to 13 in the new season. Proponents site the growing number of forfeits in dual meets, most often in the lightest and most heavy weights.
Current weights are 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285. The proposal approved again on Monday would keep the first nine weights unchanged, but consolidate the last five weights from five to four. The new upper-weights would be 172, 189, 215 and 285.
Monday’s vote came after a review by the PIAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee which said it found no health or safety issues in the proposal.
The change, if implemented next season, would likely have a negative impact on a Central Mountain High School program which returns 13 starters, including three at the final three weights from this past season.
Central Mountain coach Biff Walizer earlier had stated his displeasure with the reduction of one upper weight for next season. Walizer said there is a prospective injury issue because of the increased pound gap in the upper weights: “According to the PIAA’s proposal a wrestler could weigh in at 160.1 and compete against a wrestler who weighs in at 189.0, a wrestler could weigh in at 172.1 and compete against a wrestler who weighs in at 215.0, a wrestler could weigh in at 189.1 and compete against a wrestler who weighs in at 285.0. This increased gap in the potential weight discrepancies could expose athletes to a greater risk of injury.”
“I have a hard time siding with any argument that decreases the opportunities for young student-athletes to share in the character building experiences this sport provides for its participants. Instead of looking for ways to reduce opportunities, I’d be in favor of the PIAA supporting some educational tools for coaches to use to help recruit student-athletes and increase the participation numbers within their programs,” Walizer said.
