We Want To Wrestle Too
Photo credit: Sandy Bommarito
by guest writer Shannyn Gillespie
IG: @coachshannyntalks
Twitter: @coachshannyn
Should women’s college wrestling provide more opportunities for prospective female heavyweight wrestlers?
This question is based on the compilation of USA Wrestling’s high school ranking list of 14 weight classes for female wrestlers and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) proposal of 14 weight classes:
USAW: 100, 106, 112, 117, 122, 127, 132, 138, 144, 152, 164, 180, 200, 225
NFHS: 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 170, 190, 235
The argument/question stems from the current women’s college wrestling weight classes listed below:
NCAA/NAIA: 101, 109, 116, 123, 130, 136, 143, 155, 170, 191
The author’s answer is “Yes” to the above question and this paper explores several reasons beyond the rationales of inclusion, growth, & equal opportunity which are parts of the premise for Title IX…
The weight cutting issue
Years ago, all high school and college governing bodies established rules to discourage rapid weight loss during the competitive season to safeguard student athletes health & well being. Under the current system, all female high school students above 191 pounds would not necessarily have to lose weight rapidly to make the highest college weight class—but, many of these students may actually harm or hurt themselves trying to lose up to 40 pounds to wrestle in college.
Adjacent to this idea of losing up to 40 pounds is the psychological undertone that is overtly being suggested: “wrestlers above 191 pounds are not welcome to wrestle on women’s college wrestling teams.” This idea actually decreases opportunity for many female high school wrestlers.
Other sports
Wrestling is the only sport in high school and many colleges where there is an actual weigh-in prior to competition. This is one of the reasons why non-wrestling female collegiate athletic rosters no longer list weights of students anywhere.
Does this mean other female college athletes do not weigh more than 191 pounds?
Somewhat of a loaded question and the author’s answer is “Does it really matter?”
An argument can be made that if other female college sports do not have weight classes, it is not necessarily important (nor fair) to compare other sports to wrestling.
Current trends
Since 2004, about 25 more high school state organizations have sanctioned girls wrestling in their respective states (30 total as of 4/23/21). Also during that time, the number of high school girl wrestler participants has gone from around 4,000 to 22,000. Both of those statistics suggest there will be more female wrestlers in more states and more wrestlers across more weight classes…
If the weight classes of the national governing body for wrestling in the US (USAW) and the National Federation of State High School Associations are in indication of female participants in high school, their collective statements suggest those heavyweight classes matter.
College coaches
The author is a college coach at Lakeland University in Wisconsin and believes other college coaches have the power for effective change regarding female heavyweight wrestlers in college. The next sentences describe 3 proposals women’s wrestling college coaches can apply.
Proposal #1
Add a varsity heavyweight class at either 220, 230, or 240 immediately. Either weight would be around 30 pounds heavier than the current “heavyweight” class for female college wrestlers. This weight class would also be in alignment with current female high school weight classes.
Proposal #2
Add an exhibition heavyweight class at either 220, 230, or 240 immediately. And, phase this weight class into a varsity weight over 3-4 years.
Proposal #3
Combine the last 2 proposals and list the weight class as 191+. If the plus sign or unlimited weight class is a safety issue, the weight can be capped at a defined weight.
Finally
Well, the bottom line in most organizations depends on financial concerns. In this case, and at many enrollment driven institutions, this new weight class will also increase enrollment too.
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