KSHSAA approves official girls high school wrestling championships for Kansas
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by Kansas.com and other sources
Photo of the McPherson girls wrestling team courtesy of Mya Kretzer and Kansas.com
Article by Hayden Barber, Kansas.com
About eight years ago, McPherson athletic director Shane Backhus and wrestling coach Doug Kretzer started formulating a campaign that finally went through on Friday afternoon.
At its April board of directors meeting, the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) approved the introduction of girls wrestling, a 23rd championship sport in Kansas.
The attending board of 65 representatives from across Kansas passed — with a vote of 63-2 — amendments to rules 44 and 23 of the KSHSAA Handbook. The biggest change comes to Rule 44, which replicates the boys wrestling state championship structure for girls. The change to Rule 23 states the following:
“The mixed team rule is being waived for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years for the sport of wrestling. A two year transition period is being granted to permit girls the option of participating in both their school boy’s lineup and girl’s lineup during the regular season contests only. If a competition only offers a boys division, then girls will have the option of competing in the boys division. If the competition offers both a boys and girls division, then girls are required to wrestle in the girls division. After the two specified years, the mixed team rule will go into effect and girls will only participate against girls. From the start of implementation of Girls Wrestling, the girls must participate in the girls only postseason. No option is given to compete in the boys postseason.”
Click here for full story from Kansas.com
Editor's Note 1: It was a great week for girls high school wrestling in the USA. Earlier, Colorado officially approved girls wrestling, one year after the approval of a test season. With the addition of Kansas hosting an official girls state championships next year, there are 15 states with state association approval for girls wrestling (in alphabetical order): Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington.
USA Wrestling's Girls High School Development Committee, led by Joan Fulp and Andrea Yamamoto, have been working with other organizations nationwide on this project, with great success.
Editor's Note 2: According to an Associated Press report today, the KSHSAA "executive director, Bill Faflick, says the first girls state wrestling tournament will be held in Salina on Feb. 27, 2020."
Article by Hayden Barber, Kansas.com
About eight years ago, McPherson athletic director Shane Backhus and wrestling coach Doug Kretzer started formulating a campaign that finally went through on Friday afternoon.
At its April board of directors meeting, the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) approved the introduction of girls wrestling, a 23rd championship sport in Kansas.
The attending board of 65 representatives from across Kansas passed — with a vote of 63-2 — amendments to rules 44 and 23 of the KSHSAA Handbook. The biggest change comes to Rule 44, which replicates the boys wrestling state championship structure for girls. The change to Rule 23 states the following:
“The mixed team rule is being waived for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years for the sport of wrestling. A two year transition period is being granted to permit girls the option of participating in both their school boy’s lineup and girl’s lineup during the regular season contests only. If a competition only offers a boys division, then girls will have the option of competing in the boys division. If the competition offers both a boys and girls division, then girls are required to wrestle in the girls division. After the two specified years, the mixed team rule will go into effect and girls will only participate against girls. From the start of implementation of Girls Wrestling, the girls must participate in the girls only postseason. No option is given to compete in the boys postseason.”
Click here for full story from Kansas.com
Editor's Note 1: It was a great week for girls high school wrestling in the USA. Earlier, Colorado officially approved girls wrestling, one year after the approval of a test season. With the addition of Kansas hosting an official girls state championships next year, there are 15 states with state association approval for girls wrestling (in alphabetical order): Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Washington.
USA Wrestling's Girls High School Development Committee, led by Joan Fulp and Andrea Yamamoto, have been working with other organizations nationwide on this project, with great success.
Editor's Note 2: According to an Associated Press report today, the KSHSAA "executive director, Bill Faflick, says the first girls state wrestling tournament will be held in Salina on Feb. 27, 2020."
