wvmat.com

So how will the new classifications work with wrestling? No way we will have three individual state champions per weight.

This is awful. I would love to have a conversation with someone who can actually do something about this.
If this passes and we go to a 3 class (AAAA, AAA, AA/A) tourney this is how it looks:

AAAA:
R1-5 teams
R2-6 Teams
R3-4 Teams
R4-5 Teams

AAA:
R1-8 Teams
R2-4 Teams
R3-11 Teams
R4-6 Teams

AA/A:
R1-12 Teams
R2-15 Teams
R3- 9 Teams
R4- 12 Teams

In the "top 2" divisions, there are some cases you have to win one match to go to the state tourney (or probably just weigh in). Heck, there will probably be a lot of byes...There has to be a better way. This waters down our state championship in a sport that doesn't need watered down.

IMO, Swimming is a "one-class" system and they have 56 schools. Wrestling has 97ish schools listed above. I bet half or more have less than 10 of the 14 weights. I'm in favor of a single state championship and this 3 class structure actually benefits our team.

We must do better...

****EDITED: Copied and pasted wrong columns. This is the regions as they stand now if the 4 class system passes and no regional changes.

AAAA:
R1 Buckhannon-Upshur, Morgantown, Preston, University, Wheeling Park
R2 Hedgesville, Jefferson, Martinsburg, Musselman, Spring Mills, Washington
R3 George Washington, Oak Hill, Riverside, Woodrow Wilson
R4 Cabell Midland, Huntington High, Hurricane, Parkersburg High, Parkersburg South


AAA:
R1 Bridgeport, Brooke, Fairmont Senior, John Marshall, East Fairmont , Hampshire , Keyser , North Marion 
R2 Elkins , Grafton , Lewis County , Robert C Byrd 
R3 Capital, Greenbrier East, Nitro, Princeton, South Charleston, St Albans, Bluefield , Herbert Hoover , Nicholas County , PikeView , Shady Spring 
R4 Spring Valley, Winfield, Chapmanville Regional, Lincoln County , Point Pleasant , Ripley 


AA/A
R1 Berkeley Springs , Frankfort , Oak Glen , Tyler Consolidated , Weir , Cameron , Hundred , Madonna , Magnolia , Paden City , St Marys , Wheeling Central 
R2 Braxton County , Clay County , Doddridge County , Lincoln , Moorefield , Petersburg , Philip Barbour , Roane County , South Harrison , East Hardy , Gilmer County, Liberty Harrison , Notre Dame , Pendleton County, Ritchie County 
R3 Independence , Liberty Raleigh , Midland Trail , River View , Greenbrier West , Meadow Bridge , Richwood , Webster County , Wyoming East 
R4 Buffalo , Logan , Mingo Central , Poca , Ravenswood , Sissonville , Williamstown , Calhoun County , Man , Tug Valley, Wahama , Wirt County 

It feels as though wrestling in West Virginia is moving backwards. As a coach and fan of the sport, I want the state tournament weekend to be the best product possible. The state population is decreasing, participation in the sport is decreasing, and it is decided that we should divide our product even further.

If this decision is what we are going to have to work with, then something needs to be figured out with regionals (or do away with them completely). I have broken down this past years regional participation numbers with next years proposed regions. I only did this with the proposed AAAA, but as you will tell, these numbers are alarming.

Region 1: Buckhannon-Upshur, Morgantown, Preston, University, Wheeling Park

106 - 3
113 - 3
120 - 3
126 - 4
132 - 4
138 - 4
144 - 4
150 - 4
157 - 5
165 - 5
175 - 5
190 - 5
215 - 5
285 - 4


Region 2: R2: Cabell Midland, Huntington High, Hurricane, Parkersburg High, Parkersburg South

106 - 4
113 - 5
120 - 4
126 - 5
132 - 5
138 - 5
144 - 4
150 - 5
157 - 5
165 - 5
175 - 5
190 - 5
215 - 5
285 - 5


Region 3 R3: Hedgesville, Jefferson, Martinsburg, Musselman, Spring Mills, Washington

106 - 5
113 - 5
120 - 6
126 - 5
132 - 5
138 - 6
144 - 6
150 - 5
157 - 6
165 - 5
175 - 5
190 - 6
215 - 6
285 - 5

Region 4 R4: George Washington, Oak Hill, Riverside, Woodrow Wilson

106 - 2
113 - 3
120 - 4
126 - 3
132 - 3
138 - 4
144 - 4
150 - 4
157 - 4
165 - 3
175 - 4
190 - 4
215 - 3
285 - 3


Danny Doyle

It feels as though wrestling in West Virginia is moving backwards. As a coach and fan of the sport, I want the state tournament weekend to be the best product possible. The state population is decreasing, participation in the sport is decreasing, and it is decided that we should divide our product even further.

THIS.

A population of roughly the size of the greater Pittsburgh area and 3 different classifications. People should feel proud of even participating in the state tournament not just showing up and weighing in and getting a slot.

I want solid first round matches, not blowouts and byes.

Just sad.

Looking at the alignments y'all are wishing for, Hundred, Paden City, and Liberty Harrison are all shutting down. You forgot to take them out.

How is the State Tournament going to work? We are adding a tournament with 224 wrestlers not to mention the girl division there will not be enough seating on Saturday. We can look at Ohio and maybe mirror their schedule.

I don't believe using a state that has a population twice ours is good fix to use their model. I would like to see AAAA and AAA combined AA and A combined, six place winners in each division with Championship and runner up awards for each of the four classifications.
Just a thought!