With safety concerns in mind due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Missouri State High School Activities Association has made significant changes to the postseason format for wrestling.
Simply put, the postseason will look much different in 2021.
The number of district tournaments has been expanded from four to eight in each class. Expanding district tournaments means there will be less wrestlers and coaches at each site, which will potentially allow spectators to attend.
The top four finishers in each weight class at each district tournament will now advance to a sectional tournament.
The top three finishers from each weight class at each of the four sectionals will advance to the state championships.
“It’s going to be rough, but the thing is, we get to wrestle,” Carthage coach Kenny Brown said. “Even if we wrestle at a different district and have a different state tournament, it’s better than not wrestling at all.
“It’s going to be a shock to some of the boys that only three in each weight class will come out of the sectional and go to state,” Brown added. “We’ve talked to the kids about it. The kids will really have to wrestle well this year to qualify for the state tournament.”
“It’s going to be real tough,” Joplin coach Jeremy Finley added. “Only 12 will get to go to state instead of 16, so that’s tough. But that’s the way it’s got to be. We’re going to roll with it and we’ll do the best we can with what we’re given.”
According to the MSHSAA press release, the state wrestling championships will be broken up into five tournaments, one for each boys classification and one for girls.
Each bracket at state will consist of 12 athletes, as opposed to 16 in the past.
There will be five one-day state tourneys, a major change from the past. State tournaments used to be spread out over three days, with all classes competing at the same site.
“That will really highlight the boys’ conditioning,” Brown said of a one-day event. “During the old state tournament, the most matches a kid would have in one day would be two or maybe three. Now you’re going to have five matches in a single day. It’s going to be different. But at least they get to wrestle.”
“I just don’t know,” Finley said about a one-day state tournament. “We’ve never had a one-day state tournament before. I guess we’ll see how it goes.”
The location of the state tournaments has not yet been announced.
Both coaches acknowledged, regardless of the changes, they’re simply pleased their respective teams are able to compete this winter.
“We’re going to do the best we can,” Finley said, noting his athletes are grateful for a season.
“The goal at this point is to hopefully make it to the state tournament,” Brown said. “We’re doing everything we can and we’re just enjoying the time we have. The goal is still to get as many kids as possible to state. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the boys.”
