SDHSAA Approves Girls Division In Wrestling

At the June 11, 2020 South Dakota High School Activities Association meeting of its
Board of Directors, the Board approved a second reading of a proposal to add a Girls
division in Wrestling, effective the 2020-21 school year. South Dakota becomes the 25th
state to sanction girls wrestling, joining area states Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Montana,
and Nebraska in offering the opportunity.

Effective in 2020-21, the Girls Wrestling division will begin with one classification and
four weight classes, divided up evenly based upon certification weights of the
competitors. The top 8 participants in each weight class, determined by TrackWrestling
criteria, will qualify for the State Wrestling Tournament, with the Girls Division
occurring alongside the boys division at the same event. Expansion of weight classes for
the future will be determined by participation numbers.

In addition to Girls Wrestling, the SDHSAA Board of Directors also approved second reading
and final approvals of several other changes, including changing of start dates for practice
in girls basketball and football, the approval of a Co-Ed Competitive Cheer division, a
running clock rule in 11AAA and 11AA football, changes to State Meet qualification in
Class A and B Track and Field, implementation of Javelin as a Track and Field event in
Class AA, a three day single site State Track and Field meet beginning in Spring 2022, an
amended State Wrestling Tournament schedule beginning at the 2021 tournament, a one
year classification cycle in 2021-22, and other items.