PIAA trying to eliminate 182 pound weight class
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Would this be a workable solution?
3 Divisions in PIAA wrestling: A, AA, AAA
Differing numbers of weight classes per Division: 8, 10, and 12. A school could choose to move up in class much as P-O and BEA did for years.
You would still end up with 28 PIAA State Champs.
Or, make it 9, 11, 13 with 33 champs.
I realize it could create problems for dual meets when 2 different divisions wrestle.
Just throwing it out there.
3 Divisions in PIAA wrestling: A, AA, AAA
Differing numbers of weight classes per Division: 8, 10, and 12. A school could choose to move up in class much as P-O and BEA did for years.
You would still end up with 28 PIAA State Champs.
Or, make it 9, 11, 13 with 33 champs.
I realize it could create problems for dual meets when 2 different divisions wrestle.
Just throwing it out there.
I like the solution that Benton went to. They pull kids from 3 school districts (Benton, Northwest, Millville) and still make Class AA numbers. Many schools in PA dont have wrestling that can be tapped into like Benton did. Hate to see weight classes go away.
When I was in hs, it was 167 and then 185, so I don't find it unreasonable.
Moving to 3 divisions doesn’t solve the forfeit problem. There should be a constant shuffling of weight classes every five years or so. People are changing and in general becoming bigger. The problem that I have with this is 106 where a lot of your forfeit problem happens yet we are taking away from the upper weights. When I wrestled it was 171 then 189 so I also don’t see a huge problem with the differential however I think you could make some adjustments at the bottom end instead.
I would go to something like this: 108, 115, 122, 129, 136, 143, 150, 157, 165, 175, 185, 210 & 275. Currently 220 is often wrestled by the 195 bumping up or the 220 going up to hwt. Most of these are coin toss "games" where if you win the toss before the match you can force the forfeit where you can take 2 of the 3 weights.
First, the lowest weight class will always be the most forfeited. Every other weight class, including HWT has the potential of "bumping up" a kid. Not possible at the lowest weight. Second, the upper weights were also identified as a forfeit issue. Hence why the consolidation at the upper end of the weights. You think forfeits have been a problem in the past, just wait until this upcoming season, if it happens at all.
Isn’t the end goal they are always trying to accomplish to optimize the amount of weights at the right weight class so the most schools can fill a roster? If you can raise the average number of full rosters then the lowest weight doesn’t have to be forfeit at all because you will have someone there to fill it more than half of the time.
Referred to the medical committee;
https://tribhssn.triblive.com/piaa-...-weight-class-reduction-to-medical-committee/
Was the PIAA's failure to take a vote caused by the threat of litigation? Refer to earlier post in this thread. Is there any legitimate concern that the elimination of the 182 pound weight class will increase the risk of injury? The PIAA showed a lack of courage by passing the buck to the medical committee.
What PA wrote is correct. The motion passed unanimously. It was referred to the medical committee. One of the reasons given in the potential lawsuit against the change was that dropping the weight class was medically dangerous.
It the fairly recent past it went from 171 to 189 - not too far off from what they are proposing (and will be instituted).
The claim that its "unsafe?" Probably from a dad whose kid has been wrestling older kids for years as your options are generally limited in terms of opponents when your kid is on the bigger side.
A non self serving opinion on the elimination of 182 does not likely include that claim. Unfortunately self-serving opinions usually abound about change or lack of in all sports involving children.
The guy leading the charge over this - at least according to the PennLive article - is the father of a Trinity freshman, soon-to-be soph.
His kid competed very well last year as a frosh at 170 - which IMO probably has more "dangerous" wrestlers for his kid to step on the mat against on a regular basis - making it to regionals, losing a regular decision to a state placer, and p-pounding more than a few of the JRs and SRs that may be "unsafe" for his kid to wrestle along the way.
Looks to me like his kid's natural weight progression next year is...drum roll please...182.
People have lost their friggin' minds...but most of us already knew that.
Yes. Unfortunately, this parent is doing his kid no favors. If the young man’s goal is to wrestle collegiately, having a father like that will trim the list of potential suitors.
He could feed his kid up to 189 for less than attorney fees.
Also this cracked me up: "Gray said he is also entertaining the idea of starting a nonprofit that invests in communities and the infrastructure in the youth and junior high ranks to grow the sport."
As if there are no wrestling clubs in the Camp Hill area.
There were multiple suitors willing to tolerate old man Suriano. The kid will be recruited correctly, relative to his perceived college potential. Nobody ever believes the father is that much of a pain in the ass, until after the honeymoon.
Suriano was also an undefeated 4x NJ state champ who IIRC never gave up a takedown in HS. This kid might turn into a real D1 prospect, or not, too early to tell.
I get the point and mostly agree -- coaches will evaluate the kid and not as much the father. Dad won't be on campus. (He might be in the stands picking a fight with Terry.)
No coach wants to be sued either -- then again, that didn't stop at least 6 schools from pursuing Verk after the ISU de-commit.
El-Jefe explained me better than I explained me. I thought of Suriano when I typed my first post. But, this young man was 32-10 and not a SQ. Great record, but hardly in the Suriano discussion.
Believe me, I hope for the best for the kid. I just hope his dad doesn’t mess it up for him.
I guess Cumberland Valley isnt complaining about their loss of this kids father if am thinking of the right kid.
