Wrestling weight classes

In many styles of wrestling, opponents are matched based on weight (mass).

International (Olympic) Weight Classes

Current

For Men's Freestyle and Greco-Roman

Currently, men's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling is divided into four main age categories internationally: schoolboys, cadets, juniors, and seniors. [ cite web
last = international Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
work = p. 11
publisher = FILA
date = 2006-12-01
url = http://www.fila-wrestling.com/images/documents/lutte/wr230107.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-09 ]

Schoolboys (young men ages 14-15; or age 13 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman do so in one of the following 10 weight classes [ cite web
last = International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
work = p. 12
publisher = FILA
date = 2006-12-01
url = http://www.fila-wrestling.com/images/documents/lutte/wr230107.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-09 ] :

* 29 to 32 kg
* 35 kg
* 38 kg
* 42 kg
* 47 kg
* 53 kg
* 59 kg
* 66 kg
* 73 kg
* 73 to 85 kg

Cadets (young men ages 16-17; or age 15 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman do so in one of the following 10 weight classes [ cite web
last = International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
work = p. 12
publisher = FILA
date = 2006-12-01
url = http://www.fila-wrestling.com/images/documents/lutte/wr230107.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-09 ] :

* 39 to 42 kg
* 46 kg
* 50 kg
* 54 kg
* 58 kg
* 63 kg
* 69 kg
* 76 kg
* 85 kg
* 85 to 100 kg

Juniors (young men ages 18 to 20; or age 17 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman do so in one of the following eight weight classes [ cite web
last = International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
work = p. 12
publisher = FILA
date = 2006-12-01
url = http://www.fila-wrestling.com/images/documents/lutte/wr230107.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-09 ] :

* 46 to 50 kg
* 55 kg
* 60 kg
* 66 kg
* 74 kg
* 84 kg
* 96 kg
* 96 to 120 kg

Seniors (men ages 20 and up) competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling do so in one of the following seven weight classes [ cite web
last = International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
work = p. 12
publisher = FILA
date = 2006-12-01
url = http://www.fila-wrestling.com/images/documents/lutte/wr230107.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-09 ] :

* 50 to 55 kg
* 60 kg
* 66 kg
* 74 kg
* 84 kg
* 96 kg
* 96 to 120 kg

For men, there is also a special category for some freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions, "Veterans", for men ages 35 and older, that presumably wrestle in the same weight classes and seniors. [ cite web
last = International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
work = p. 11
publisher = FILA
date = 2006-12-01
url = http://www.fila-wrestling.com/images/documents/lutte/wr230107.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-09 ]

* 36 to 38 kg
* 40 kg
* 43 kg
* 46 kg
* 49 kg
* 52 kg
* 56 kg
* 60 kg
* 65 kg
* 65 to 70 kg

Juniors (young women ages 18 to 20; or age 17 with a medical certificate and parental authorization) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following eight weight classes [ cite web
last = International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
work = p. 55
publisher = FILA
date = 2006-12-01
url = http://www.fila-wrestling.com/images/documents/lutte/wr230107.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-09 ] :

* 40 to 44 kg
* 48 kg
* 51 kg
* 55 kg
* 59 kg
* 63 kg
* 67 kg
* 67 to 72 kg

Seniors (women ages 20 and up) competing in freestyle wrestling do so in one of the following seven weight classes [ cite web
last = International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = International Wrestling Rules: Greco-Roman Wrestling, Freestyle Wrestling, Women's Wrestling
work = p. 55
publisher = FILA
date = 2006-12-01
url = http://www.fila-wrestling.com/images/documents/lutte/wr230107.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-08-09 ] :

* 44 to 48 kg
* 51 kg
* 55 kg
* 59 kg
* 63 kg
* 67 kg
* 67 to 72 kg

Different nations may have different weight classes and different age categories for their levels of men's and women's freestyle and men's Greco-Roman competition.

Collegiate (Scholastic) Weight Classes

Elementary

Elementary School students competing in wrestling have multiple ways weight classes are determined.

A) "Madison System" - This is a popular tournament format where there is no weight classes and the tournament director pairs wrestlers into brackets (usually 8 or 16 man) based on weight at weigh-ins. This is a popular method because it discourages "weight cutting" in young athletes.

B) Division-Based system - In this system, the tournament director separates athletes by age (ex: Grade 2 and under, Grade 4 and under, and Grade 6 and under), and by weight class. Weight class and division is at the tournament director's discretion.

C) Pure-Weight based system - In this system, the athletes are not divided by age by rather just by weight class. This is rarely used because it pairs younger, less experienced athletes with older, more experienced athletes.

Middle school

Wrestling weight classes for Middle (junior high) school in the United States vary from state to state and are not regulated by the NFHS. Students may compete in scholastic wrestling in one of the following weight classes:

* 78 lb
* 86 lb
* 94 lb
* 102 lb
* 110 lb
* 118 lb
* 126 lb
* 134 lb
* 142 lb
* 152 lb
* 165 lb
* 185 lb
* 275 lb

Some States use these weight classes for middle school
* 80 lb
* 86 lb
* 92 lb
* 98 lb
* 104 lb
* 110 lb
* 116 lb
* 122 lb
* 128 lb
* 134 lb
* 142 lb
* 150 lb
* 160 lb
* 172 lb
* 205 lb
*Heavyweight (up to 245 lb)

High school

High school students in the United States competing in scholastic wrestling do so in one of the following 14 weight classes set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) [cite book
last = National Federation of State High School Associations
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 2008-09 NFHS Wrestling Rules Book
publisher = NFHS
date = 2008-10-8
location =
pages = p. 19
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = ] :
* 103 lb
* 112 lb
* 119 lb
* 125 lb
* 130 lb
* 135 lb
* 140 lb
* 145 lb
* 152 lb
* 160 lb
* 171 lb
* 189 lb
* 215 lb
* Heavyweight (that is, up to 285 lb, formerly 275 lb)

Other states have additional or modified weight classes such as:
* 96 lb (in the state of New York [ cite web
last = New York State Public High School Athletic Association
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 2007-2008 NYSPHSAA Handbook
work = pp. 72-73
publisher = NYSPHSAA
date = 2007-08-01
url = http://www.nysphsaa.org/handbook/pdf/handbook_0708.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-06-30 ] )
* 98 lb (in the state of Montana [ cite web
last = Montana High School Association
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 2007-08 Montana High School Association Handbook
work = p. 199
publisher = MHSA
date = 2007-08-01
url = http://www.mhsa.org/Handbook/2007-08Handbook/2007-08-Wrestling.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-09-15 ] )
* 105 lb (in place of the 103 lb weight class in the state of Montana [ cite web
last = Montana High School Association
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 2007-08 Montana High School Association Handbook
work = p. 199
publisher = MHSA
date = 2007-08-01
url = http://www.mhsa.org/Handbook/2007-08Handbook/2007-08-Wrestling.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-09-15 ] )
* 180 lb (in the state of Texas [ cite web
last = University Interscholastic League
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 2007-08 Wrestling Manual
work = p. 38
publisher = UIL
date = 2007-08-01
url = http://www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/manuals/wrestling/pg30_47reg_season.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-09-15 ] )

College

College and university students in the United States competing in collegiate wrestling do so in one of the following 10 weight classes set by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) [ cite web
last = National Collegiate Athletic Association
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 2008 NCAA Wrestling Rules and Interpretations
work = p. WR-31
publisher = NCAA
date = 2007-08-31
url = http://www.ncaa.org/library/rules/2008/2008_wrestling_rules.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-09-06 ] :

* 125 lb
* 133 lb
* 141 lb
* 149 lb
* 157 lb
* 165 lb
* 174 lb
* 184 lb
* 197 lb
* Heavyweight (that is, from 183 lb to 285 lb) [The minimum allowed weight for the Heavyweight class is 184 lb for the NCWA. See cite web
last = National Collegiate Wrestling Association
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 2007-08 NCWA Wrestling Plan
work = p. 7
publisher = NCWA
date = 2007-08-01
url = http://www.ncwa.net/files/Wrestling_Plan.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-09-21 ]

Also:
* 235 lb (Only the National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA), which governs college wrestling for institutions outside of the NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA, currently allows this weight class, which ranges from 174 lb to 235 lb.) [ cite web
last = National Collegiate Wrestling Association
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 2007-08 NCWA Wrestling Plan
work = p. 7
publisher = NCWA
date = 2007-08-01
url = http://www.ncwa.net/files/Wrestling_Plan.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-09-21 ]

The National Collegiate Wrestling Association has also approved the following eight weight classes for its women's division [ cite web
last = National Collegiate Wrestling Association
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = 2007-08 NCWA Wrestling Plan
work = p. 7
publisher = NCWA
date = 2007-08-01
url = http://www.ncwa.net/files/Wrestling_Plan.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2007-09-21 ] :
* 105 lb
* 112 lb
* 121 lb
* 130 lb
* 139 lb
* 148 lb
* 159 lb
* 176 lb

Professional wrestling

In professional wrestling, weight classes are not as strict or as organized. Cruiserweights can compete against Heavyweight wrestlers, etc.:

*Welterweight: weight limit of convert|172|lb|kg|abbr=on
*Middleweight: weight limit of convert|192|lb|kg|abbr=on
*Light heavyweight: weight limit of convert|214|lb|kg|abbr=on
*Junior heavyweight: older term for cruiserweight, used mainly in Japan
*Cruiserweight: The weight limit varies from promotion and time period, but generally includes all wrestlers under a certain weight limit. The lowest weight limit ever used for cruiserweights is convert|215|lb|kg|abbr=on and the highest is believed to be convert|235|lb|kg|abbr=on. However, convert|220|lb|kg|abbr=on is usually the most common weight limit for cruiserweights.
*Heavyweight: all athletes weighing more than convert|220|lb|kg|abbr=on
*Super heavyweight: Not an official weight class and not so much coined unless an athlete is extremely large, but any athlete weighing convert|300|lb|kg|abbr=on or more is considered a super heavyweight.

References

External links

* [http://www.thewrestlingtalk.com/high-school-wrestling/ High School Wrestling]
* [http://www.fila-wrestling.com/beta/fila/files/regles2002_an.doc www.fila-wrestling.com]
* [http://www.nfhs.org/web/2006/08/200607_wrestling_rules_changes.aspx www.nfhs.org wreestling rules changes 2006]
* [http://www.wrestling-titles.com/weights.html Weight Divisions in Professional Wrestling]

ee also

*Boxing weight classes