Hinsdale Central sophomore Ernest Battaglia could wrestle at 132 or 138 next season, according to new changes made by the National Federation of High Schools. Battagila wrestled at 130 last season. | ROB HART ~ SUN-TIMES MEDIA
State wrestling coaches will get a little break from their annual struggles to fill light weight classes due to changes in weight classes announced Tuesday by the Indianapolis-based National Federation of High Schools.
As a member of the NFHS, the IHSA will adopt the new changes next season in the first major changes in 23 years made to the weight classes. The number of classes remains at 14, according to the NFHS release.
“The most significant move is to open weight classes from 103 to 106 and create a general shift toward heavier weights,” said IHSA wrestling administrator Craig Anderson.
Hinsdale Central coach Jason Hayes said state coaches voted on the proposal during the postseason.
“It’s good for some teams and not good for others,” Hayes said. “If it’s implemented in Illinois, we’ll adjust to it.”
The new weight classes are 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220 and 285.
The old weight classes were 103, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, 215 and 285.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, coaches from states such as Wisconsin requested a reduced number of weight classes. That measure did not pass.
In other rules changes, the NFHS has eliminated the Figure 4 move around the head and the boundary line around the mat will be considered inbounds.
