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The New Mexico High School Athletics and Activities Association has announced more athletes will have an opportunity to vie for individual state championships in wrestling after the Association recently adopted new weight classifications for boys and girls.
Under the new classifications, boys and girls will compete in 14 weight classes, which the boys had three years ago before the limits were reduced to decrease forfeits.
“While it could be argued the state event has seen an increase in competitiveness, overall, the reduction does not appear to have had its intended effect,” according to the agenda packet rationale presented at the NMAA’s commission meeting last month.
The rivision to 14 classifications brings the state in line with neighboring states that use that number.
“Increasing weights will alleviate logistical issues during interstate competition and afford teams, with the ability to do so, the option to provide additional varsity opportunities,” the rationale included.
Nearly 60% of the 64 respondents approved of the 14 classifications
Girls wrestling has grown from 115 participants when it started in 2018 to 835 this past season, NMAA data showed, which was another reason for bumping the number of weight classes.
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