Elementary school Elementary school students competing in wrestling have multiple ways weight classes are determined. • "Madison system" - This is a popular tournament format where there are 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. • 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. • Pure-weight based system - In this system, the athletes are not divided by age but 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
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The weight classes regulated by the
Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) are the following: • 80 lbs • 86 lbs • 92 lbs • 98 lbs • 104 lbs • 110 lbs • 116 lbs • 122 lbs • 128 lbs • 134 lbs • 142 lbs • 150 lbs • 160 lbs • 172 lbs • 205 lbs • 245 lbs
High school Beginning 2023-2024 season As of the 2023-2024 season, each state must select one of three sets of weight classes (12, 13, or 14 weight classes) provided by the
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) for high school competition in the United States, one for boys competition (which includes girls wrestling boys) and another for girls competition.
Boys competition weight classes If a state chooses to use twelve weight classes for boys competition, the weight classes are as follows: • 108 lbs • 116 lbs • 124 lbs • 131 lbs • 138 lbs • 145 lbs • 152 lbs • 160 lbs • 170 lbs • 190 lbs • 215 lbs • 285 lbs If a state chooses to use thirteen weight classes for boys competition, the weight classes are as follows: • 107 lbs • 114 lbs • 121 lbs • 127 lbs • 133 lbs • 139 lbs • 145 lbs • 152 lbs • 160 lbs • 172 lbs • 189 lbs • 215 lbs • 285 lbs If a state chooses to use fourteen weight classes for boys competition, the weight classes are as follows: • 106 lbs • 113 lbs • 120 lbs • 126 lbs • 132 lbs • 138 lbs • 144 lbs • 150 lbs • 157 lbs • 165 lbs • 175 lbs • 190 lbs • 215 lbs • 285 lbs
Girls competition weight classes If a state chooses to use twelve weight classes for girls competition, the weight classes are as follows: • 100 lbs • 107 lbs • 114 lbs • 120 lbs • 126 lbs • 132 lbs • 138 lbs • 145 lbs • 152 lbs • 165 lbs • 185 lbs • 235 lbs If a state chooses to use thirteen weight classes for girls competition, the weight classes are as follows: • 100 lbs • 106 lbs • 112 lbs • 118 lbs • 124 lbs • 130 lbs • 136 lbs • 142 lbs • 148 lbs • 155 lbs • 170 lbs • 190 lbs • 235 lbs If a state chooses to use fourteen weight classes for girls competition, the weight classes are as follows: • 100 lbs • 105 lbs • 110 lbs • 115 lbs • 120 lbs • 125 lbs • 130 lbs • 135 lbs • 140 lbs • 145 lbs • 150 lbs • 155 lbs • 170 lbs • 190 lbs • 235 lbs
Exceptions In boys' wrestling, New York uses a modified 13 weight class set, that uses the same weight classes of the 12 weight class set with the addition of a 101 pound weight class.
Before 2023-2024 season Prior to the 2023-2024 wrestling season
high school students in the
United States competing in
scholastic wrestling did so in the following 14 weight classes set by the
National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS): • 106 lbs • 113 lbs • 120 lbs • 126 lbs • 132 lbs • 138 lbs • 145 lbs • 152 lbs • 160 lbs • 170 lbs • 182 lbs • 195 lbs • 220 lbs • 285 lbs • Heavyweight class was unlimited before 1988–89; capped at 275 lb from 1988–89 through 2005–06. Other
states had additional or modified weight classes, such as: • 99 lbs (in the state of
New York;) • 98 lbs (in the state of
Montana;) • 105 lbs (in place of the 103 lbs weight class) in Montana. • 103, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, 215 and 285 are the weight classes used in Michigan. • 106 lbs/48 kg, 113 lbs/51 kg, 120 lbs/54 kg, 126 lbs/57 kg, 132 lbs/59.87 kg, 138 lbs/62.59 kg, 144 lbs/65 kg, 150 lbs/68 kg, 157 lbs/71 kg, 165 lbs/74.84 kg, 175 lbs/79 kg, 190 lbs/86 kg, 215 lbs/97.52 kg and 285 lbs/129 kg are the weight classes used in Kansas. ==Collegiate weight classes in the United States==