<P> The history of scholastic wrestling in the United States is closely tied to the development of its college counterpart . The Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association held its first tournament in 1905, which soon sparked many more wrestling tournaments for both college and university students and high school students . College and high school wrestling grew especially after the standardization of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) wrestling rules, which applied early on to both collegiate and scholastic wrestling (with high school modifications). More colleges, universities, and junior colleges began offering dual meets and tournaments, including championships and having organized wrestling seasons . There were breaks in wrestling seasons because of World War I and World War II, but in the high schools especially, state association wrestling championships sprung up in different regions throughout the 1930s and 1940s . As amateur wrestling grew after World War II, various collegiate athletic conferences also increased the number and quality of their wrestling competition, with more wrestlers making the progression of wrestling in high school, being recruited, and entering collegiate competition . Girls' scholastic wrestling has somewhat fuzzy roots, as girls from time to time would join boys' teams as early as the 1970s, and there have been established various private girls wrestling clubs throughout the U.S.. Most notable among these athletes was National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, Tricia Saunders . However, the first official, public - school all - girls wrestling team was formed in Brookline High School in Brookline Massachusetts by coach Dustin Carter; the team of 15 girls was formed in 1993 and became an official public high school team three years later . The first official U.S. Girls Wrestling Nationals was held 1997 . Today, the various state high school associations continue to also host annual wrestling championships for individuals and for teams . At one time there could be no middle school wrestlers wrestling at the high school level, but today, middle school wrestlers can do this (according to procedures set out by their state association). In the past they could have had their wrestling eligibility taken away or other punishment . Generally, in all scholastic sports, when a middle schooler participates at a Varsity level, they can no longer compete in a Junior high or Middle School level (in that sport). NYSPHAA: NOTE: Students may be eligible regardless of age or grade if they have been approved through the State Education Department's Selection / Classification Program http://www.nysphsaa.org/Portals/0/PDF/Handbook/2016-17%20Handbook/ByLaws%20and%20Eligibility%20Standards.pdf </P> <P> Scholastic wrestling is regulated by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Each state high school association has adopted its wrestling rules, with each making some modifications . Every high school is expected to practice wrestling at two levels: varsity and junior varsity, although wrestling at the freshmen (ninth grade) level is becoming more widespread . The NFHS generally sets the standard for weight classes for high school - level dual meets, multiple duals, and tournaments . In most states, high school wrestlers can compete at 14 different weight classes, ranging from 106 lb (48 kg) to the Heavyweight division of up to 285 lb (129 kg). Other states have additional or modified weight classes such as the 96 lb (44 kg) weight class in states such as New York, the 98 lb (44 kg) and 105 lb (48 kg) weight classes in states such as Montana, and the 180 lb (82 kg) weight class in states such as Texas . Weight classes for junior varsity, freshman, and middle school teams may differ from state to state . Each state high school association that sanctions wrestling also has a defined weight - control plan that prohibits excessive weight loss and dehydration during the season . The plan would include at least a minimum 7 percent body fat for males and 12 percent body fat for females . These weight control plans include provisions for weight assessment by the school's athletics medical staff, and certification of the lowest allowable weight class with the team's head coach and the person that performs the weight assessment . Often, this is done online through the website of the state high school association or the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA). After the date of certification, a growth allowance of two pounds in each weight class may be allowed in some states . Many tournaments offer an allowance of one or two pounds, allowing wrestlers to compete in a certain class if they are within the allowance of making the weight limit for that class . All of this is done in order to protect the wrestler's health . NWCA Official Weight Classes as of 2014 - 15: 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220, 285 . </P> <P> The high school wrestling season customarily runs from October or November to March . Regular season competition begins in late October or early November and continues until February . Post-season competition usually continues from February to March (depending on, if individual wrestlers or teams qualify for a regional, sectional, or state championship). Normally, wrestling teams from two different high schools would compete in what is known as a "dual meet". It is possible for there also to be a "multiple dual", where more than two wrestling teams compete against each other at the same event on the same day . For example, one high school wrestling team may face another wrestling team for the first dual, and then a third wrestling team for the second dual . Also, those two wrestling teams may compete against each other in a dual meet as well . High schools often compete in regional, city -, or county - wide leagues . </P> <P> Dual meets usually take place on evenings during the school week, or on Saturday mornings, afternoons, or evenings during the wrestling season and begin with weigh - ins, shoulder - to - shoulder, at a maximum of one hour before the meet begins . Wrestlers may wrestle up only one weight class above the weight class that they are placed in, with some exceptions . If a wrestler fails to make weight, he either has to forfeit or weigh - in at a higher class . If a wrestler is suspected by a referee or coach of having a communicable skin disease, the wrestler can either be disqualified or provide written documentation from a physician that the skin disease is not communicable . If a meet physician is on - site, his or her judgment would overrule such documentation . Dual meets often feature one or two pound allowances, but in order to qualify for a league championship, wrestlers are required to weigh in without the benefit of a pound allowance (at "scratch weight") a certain number of times during the dual meet season . In all cases, after weigh - ins, the referee coordinates the random draw, which determines the sequence of weight classes for the dual meet . After the random draw, the referee will call the wrestlers from each team who have been designated as captains . One of the captains will call a disk toss . The disk will then fall to the floor and determine: 1) which team has the choice of position at the start of the second period and 2) which one of the team's members is to appear first at the scorer's table when called by the referee for each weight class . The wrestler - captain who won the disk toss may choose the even or odd weight classes . That is, he may choose the weight classes, from lowest to highest, that are numbered evenly or oddly . The first weight class chosen in the random draw is odd . Thus, the rest of the weight classes are even and odd accordingly . For example, if the 120lb weight class is chosen in the random draw, then the 120lb, 132lb, 145lb, etc. weight classes would be odd, and the 126lb, 138lb, 152lb, etc. weight classes would be even . This order would work in the traditional sequence until the last even weight class of 113lb . </P>

When does wrestling season start in middle school