OSSAA to Crown State Champions in Girls Wrestling
By The Oklahoman on September 03, 2019
https://www.nfhs.org/articles/ossaa-to-crown-state-champions-in-girls-wrestling/From the Oklahoman:
For the first time in state history, the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association will award individual state championships in girls wrestling.
OSSAA assistant director Todd Goolsby said Wednesday there will be champions crowned in February for girl wrestlers.
There will not be team state titles for girls until more programs join the fold, which is happening rapidly. For this season, only state champions at each weight will be crowned.
The wrestling community, as a whole, is quite excited about this opportunity,” Goolsby said.
The long-term goal is an OSSAA-sanctioned girls wrestling division with standalone championships. For now, Goolsby plans to ask wrestling coaches during the October meetings about whether to have 10, 12 or 14 weight classes at the girls division.
During the state wrestling championship in February, girls sessions will come before or after the boys sessions. In the championship finals, the OSSAA will add a fifth mat for girls to wrestle on while Class 6A-3A will remain on a mat per class.
More schools are exploring girls wrestling programs, with Broken Arrow starting the state’s first in the spring. If numbers are too big this season, Goolsby said they may move the girls championships to its own date.