SDWCA Postseason Weight Class Revision
Executive Summary
This proposal offers an alternative to the current weight class structure employed by the SDWCA for the
current postseason tournaments which stagers weight classes across age groups using common five pound
increment. Under the current structure heavier wrestlers are at an advantage as they are asked to give up a
smaller percentage of their body weight when compared to wrestlers at lighter weight classes. Figure EI below
highlights the current disparity for each of the current weight classes with the percentage in each far right
column highlighting the percentage of body weight that separates the wrestler at the top of a weight class from
those at the bottom. Additionally, this figure depicts those weight classes where wrestlers competing at those
groups have less than a 30% chance of advancing to the state tournament. Those cell marked in orange reflect
what we refer to as “Premium Weights” and the goal of this proposal is to employ a more equal body weight
differential to increase the number of weight classes where the highest percentage of youth wrestlers are
currently competing in South Dakota.
Figure E1
Body Weight Differentials for Current Weight Classes Used in SDWCA Postseason
Figure E2 reflects the new weight classes being proposed which employs a formula for a more equal
distribution across weight classes keeping a consistent 8% standard body weight differential at the higher weight
classes, and between 6% and 7% for premium weights. Using this approach, allows for the addition of weight
classes for each of the weight class bands (those depicted in orange in each of the figures) where the highest
percentage of wrestlers currently participate in South Dakota. Attachment I of this document provides a more
comprehensive overview of the data used to develop this proposal if questions emerge from Board members
regarding the methodology employed
Figure E2
Proposed SDWCA Postseason Weight Classes Using Common Weight Class Differential
SDWCA Postseason Weight Class Revision
The South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association (SDWCA) has considered a number of
strategies over the past six year to positively improve retention of young athletes in the sport of wrestling
in South Dakota. In 2002, wrestlers in the Bantam division were finally allowed to compete at
districts/regions/state, followed by the introduction of the tots division in 2005. Additionally, expanding
the brackets from 15 to 16 wrestlers in 2008 ensured that one additional wrestler per weight class by
allowing each region to advance four wrestlers for a particular age division based on a rotation basis.
Two other options over the past six years were not fully implemented. First, SDWCA considered
a proposal in 2007 to establish both A and B divisions to fundamentally double the size of the current
state tournament. Second, in 2012 the creation of open districts, and four geographically placed regions,
was also proposed in an attempt to establish a greater level of parity for the current district/region
structure across the state. Each of these approaches did not garner overarching support due to the
dramatic change the proposed revisions would have on the current SDWCA postseason structure.
Unfortunately, despite the lack of adoption for these two proposals, a general inequity continues to exist
that we believe is adversely impacting the retention of youth wrestlers in this state. We believe that a
modest revision to the current weight class structure for the postseason could assist in addressing this
problem.
Existing Weight Classes
The weight classes currently employed by the SDWCA have been in existence for the past four
decade, and align with those employed at many National AAU tournaments across the country. However,
the rationale for the current weight classes has a number of limitations stemming from the use of a
common five pound incremental increase per weight class. Figure 1 below provides information on the
current weight class distribution for the five primary age groups. The first column specifies the weight,
the second represents the difference in weight between wrestlers at the top and bottom of the weight class,
and the third column represents the percentage of the body weight a wrestler at the bottom gives up to
those at the high end in the same class. Take for instance the current midget division which represents
weight classes that have been in existence since the original 10 & Under class was first introduced. A
45lbs wrestler who competes in the 50lbs weight class would currently give up 10% of his/her body
weight when competing against those wrestlers at the top of that division. As one advanced up the age
division, the heavier the wrestler is the less he/she is asked to give up in overall body weight; whereby a
95lb wrestler is only asked to give up 5% of his/her body weight. As a wrestler ages, the disparity
continues to increase as is highlighted in the 18 weight classes currently employed for the schoolboy
division.
Figure 1
Body Weight Differentials for Current Weight Classes Used in SDWCA Postseason
Weight disparity aside, there is one other important factor to highlight before considering the
proposed revisions. When evaluating the data that were available through TrackWrestling for the five
region tournaments last year, we evaluated each bracket to determine the placement of the highest
percentage of wrestlers across each age division1. This analysis produced very interesting results which
are highlighted in Figure 2. The total number of wrestlers for each age group is depicted in the left side of
the table, and the final three columns depict the Average Size of the Region Bracket across the state, the
wrestlers Chance of Advancing to State based on the average size of the brackets, and then the wrestlers
Chance of Placing at the State tournament. It is notable to see in this figure that there is great disparity
in the total number of wrestlers competing across the state in a select number of weight classes. Those
that are highlighted in orange represent those weights (what we define as premium weights) where a
wrestler’s chance of advancing to state is less than 30%. Those that compete in Bantam 50, 55, and 60
have less than a 20% chance of advancing when compared to the 80, 90, and HWT wrestlers in the same
division who have 90% chance or higher.
Figure 2
Distribution of Wrestlers at Each Weight Class & Age Group at SDWCA Postseason Tournaments
1
Please note that this analysis only depicts numbers for those wrestlers who were able to advance to the Region tournament.
An increasingly higher number of wrestlers who compete in anything larger than an 8 man bracket at their district
tournament are not included in this analysis as the data are not available.
At a number of the weight classes in the Novice division, we experience a similar level of
disparity for the 70, 75, 80, and 85lbs weight classes, yet overall despite a similar number of weight
classes (15 for both Midget and Novice), the Novice division had 84 few wrestlers than the Midget
division compete last year at the region tournament. Those wrestlers that are retained into the sport when
they advance to Schoolboy are given an additional 3 weight classes (18 overall) despite a reduction in 190
wrestlers competing overall. It is evident from this analysis that South Dakota is losing a sizable number
of wrestlers as they transition from Midget to the Novice & Schoolboy divisions. A larger percentage of
the wrestlers are competing in a more restricted set of weight classes further reducing their opportunity to
advance to the state tournament.
Figure 3
Distribution of Wrestlers at Each Weight Class & Age Group at SDWCA Postseason Tournaments
(Novice & Schoolboy)
Proposed Revision to Existing Weight Classes
The proposal presented to the SDWCA is to modify the current weight class distribution for the five
primary age groups utilizing a formula that provides for a more equal distribution across weight classes
keeping a consistent 8% standard body weight differential at the higher weight classes, and between 6%
and 7% for premium weights. We use the term “Premium Weights” to represent those weight classes
where wrestlers have less than a 30% chance of advancing to the state tournament once qualifying to
compete at the region tournament. Using this approach, allows for the addition of weight classes for each
of the weight class bands (those depicted in orange in each of the figures) where the highest percentage of
wrestlers currently participate in South Dakota. Figure 4 below highlights the proposed distributions.
The current modifications results from using this proposed weight class modification:
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Tots: Expansion of current 6 weight classes to 8. Moving the lowest weight class from 35lbs to
37lbs, which will allow five weight classes within what are three premium weight classes.
Bantam: Expansion of current 11 weights to 13 weight classes. Distribution now allows for
seven weight classes within the premium band compared to the current 5.
Midget: Expansion of current 15 weights to 16 weight classes. Six premium weights now are
expanded to eight by allowing for a 6% body weight differential for those wrestlers between 53
and 83lbs.
Novice: Maintain current weight class allotment. Expansion of one weight class within the
premium weight classes.
Schoolboy: Current weight class structure retained as no premium weights exist.
Figure 4
Proposed SDWCA Postseason Weight Classes Using Common Weight Class Differential
Additional Support for Modification
Although AAU and USA National Tournaments have employed similar weight class distributions
that are currently in place in South Dakota, a sizable number of national and state tournaments around the
country have moved toward a more equalized weight distribution being proposed here. Links to a number
of these tournaments are provided below:
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Rocky Mountain National Series: Employs a 3lb differential for 6 & Under & 8 & Under, a 4lb
differential for 10 & Under and 12 & Under.
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6 & Under – 37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 61, HWT
8 & Under - 42, 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 87, 97, HWT
10 & Under – 49, 53, 57, 61, 65, 69, 73, 77, 81, 85, 89, 100, 113, 120, HWT
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World of Wrestling Series (Tusla, Reno, et.c): Employs a 3lb differential for first four divisions
and increases slightly as one works up the weight classes.
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12 & Under – 62, 66, 70, 74, 78, 82, 86, 90, 98, 106, 114, 122, 130, 146, 165, HWT
15 & Under - 78, 83, 88, 95,102,109,116,123,130,137,144,156,172,190, 285 Max
6 & under - 37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 60, 61-70 LT HWT, 71-UP HWT
8 & Under - 43, 46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 67, 70, 75, 85, 100 LT HWT, HWT
10 & Under - 52, 55, 58, 61, 64, 67, 70, 73, 76, 80, 85, 90, 100, 110, 130 LT HWT, HWT
12 & Under - 64, 67, 70, 73, 76, 80, 84, 88, 92, 96, 100, 105, 110, 120, 130, 145, HWT
15 & Under - 75, 82, 89, 95, 101, 108, 115, 125, 135, 145, 157, 175, 200, 285
Iowa Super PeeWee State Tournament: Uses only a 2lb weight differential for introductory
weights for their Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade Divisions.
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Kindergarten: 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 55, 61 70, HWT
1st Grade: 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 61, 65, 71, 80, 92, HWT
2nd Grade: 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 75, 80, 87, 100, 115, HW
It is important to emphasize here that this proposal is not intended to simply reward participation
for wrestlers in South Dakota, rather it seeks to establish greater parity by distributing weight classes to
better align with where we have the highest number of wrestlers in each club around the state. Almost
every club can look at the premium weights listed in the analysis and note where they lose wrestlers with
potential each year because they are unable to advance to the state tournament simply because their
weight. We ask your support in considering making the modifications presented in Figure 4 in an effort
to assist clubs in the future retention of wrestlers in our programs.