2025-2026 Age divisions
Quote from kylelsl on April 4, 2025, 8:53 pmI have spoke with several parents, coaches (past and present) along with board members from the SDWCA about the age divisions here in South Dakota. I may be wrong on this issue, but from what i have gathered from the west river side, is we would like to see an age as off date at the start of the season (1 Jan 2025 for this year). This would allow kids to actually wrestle the age they are. When you go to the national style tournaments (Kick Off Classic, Tulsa Nationals, Reno, Black Hills Nationals, NW Big Foot Battle ETC.) they are age as off the tournament or more likely an age as off the start of the season. We in South Dakota have the option per the board to modify AAU rules and regulations to better fit our state. If having an age as of date prior to the season suites multiple other states with a non USA Wrestling governing body, it can work for us. I would much rather see kids be able to wrestle well into middle school than them aging out before high school wrestling starts. As we all know, mat time is king, the more they can get the better for the athletes and that only betters the state.
Im curious to hear your thoughts on the matter and willing to discuss both sides good and bad.
I have spoke with several parents, coaches (past and present) along with board members from the SDWCA about the age divisions here in South Dakota. I may be wrong on this issue, but from what i have gathered from the west river side, is we would like to see an age as off date at the start of the season (1 Jan 2025 for this year). This would allow kids to actually wrestle the age they are. When you go to the national style tournaments (Kick Off Classic, Tulsa Nationals, Reno, Black Hills Nationals, NW Big Foot Battle ETC.) they are age as off the tournament or more likely an age as off the start of the season. We in South Dakota have the option per the board to modify AAU rules and regulations to better fit our state. If having an age as of date prior to the season suites multiple other states with a non USA Wrestling governing body, it can work for us. I would much rather see kids be able to wrestle well into middle school than them aging out before high school wrestling starts. As we all know, mat time is king, the more they can get the better for the athletes and that only betters the state.
Im curious to hear your thoughts on the matter and willing to discuss both sides good and bad.
Quote from jobro04 on April 5, 2025, 9:31 amI completely agree with you on mat time being king. I also agree with making sure none of the middle school kids get left behind. It’s really tough since the better middle school kids train and compete with the high school since it’s allowed. Schools definitely need to do a better job on developing those kids until they are ready to compete at the varsity level. I would like to see more middle school tournaments. I know there was 2 clubs that tried to host a middle school open tournament last year and they were both canceled. One only had 28 kids sign up and the other one only had like 60. Also at many of the AAU tournaments during the season the number of 14u kids was very low. There is opportunities for those kids to compete but if the parents aren’t willing to take them it doesn’t help. It can’t always be up to the schools to get those kids to competitions. There is also lots of wrestling academies or whatever you want to call them starting to do offseason training that lots of people don’t take advantage of. Even just a couple hours per week in the offseason makes a huge difference.
No matter how you do it half the people will be happy and the other half upset. It wouldn’t be possible to do age the day of tournament for districts, regions and state since it’s stretched out over a month and some kids might change age divisions in that month. I have talked at length about different things with many different parents. They do have the 16u division for boys. I know it’s freestyle and that scares people mostly because they don’t understand it. Freestyle and Greco compliment Folkstyle a lot. My oldest son trains all 3 styles and it has helped him tremendously. I know it’s different but once again mat time is mat time.I do like the divisions being age based and not grade based. Sometimes you can have close to a 4 year age gap in grade based divisions.
Here is a thought I have had. Let’s get rid of districts. Go to 8 regions with a true 2nd place match. Then have the state tournament the following weekend so it’s not spread out so long. Then you could do age as of April 1st of the current year.
I completely agree with you on mat time being king. I also agree with making sure none of the middle school kids get left behind. It’s really tough since the better middle school kids train and compete with the high school since it’s allowed. Schools definitely need to do a better job on developing those kids until they are ready to compete at the varsity level. I would like to see more middle school tournaments. I know there was 2 clubs that tried to host a middle school open tournament last year and they were both canceled. One only had 28 kids sign up and the other one only had like 60. Also at many of the AAU tournaments during the season the number of 14u kids was very low. There is opportunities for those kids to compete but if the parents aren’t willing to take them it doesn’t help. It can’t always be up to the schools to get those kids to competitions. There is also lots of wrestling academies or whatever you want to call them starting to do offseason training that lots of people don’t take advantage of. Even just a couple hours per week in the offseason makes a huge difference.
No matter how you do it half the people will be happy and the other half upset. It wouldn’t be possible to do age the day of tournament for districts, regions and state since it’s stretched out over a month and some kids might change age divisions in that month. I have talked at length about different things with many different parents. They do have the 16u division for boys. I know it’s freestyle and that scares people mostly because they don’t understand it. Freestyle and Greco compliment Folkstyle a lot. My oldest son trains all 3 styles and it has helped him tremendously. I know it’s different but once again mat time is mat time.
I do like the divisions being age based and not grade based. Sometimes you can have close to a 4 year age gap in grade based divisions.
Here is a thought I have had. Let’s get rid of districts. Go to 8 regions with a true 2nd place match. Then have the state tournament the following weekend so it’s not spread out so long. Then you could do age as of April 1st of the current year.
Quote from kylelsl on April 5, 2025, 8:10 pmFrom our discussion id like to see the below changed or at least be topics at the next SDWCA board meeting for them to discuss.
- Have an age as off date of 1 April to allow kids to wrestle there true age.
- Challenge matches for a true second at state.
- District or regional representatives to be apart of every SDWCA board meeting and serve as focal points for the clubs to voice there concerns. ( I think we have this but no sure as its not common knowledge who they are)
- Get rid of districts as its a waste of time. Go to regional based and qualify from there. We wrestle the same 10 kids every weekend that we wrestle at districts/regionals.
- Separation of high school and youth. High School coaches should not govern the youth as they have no stake in it.
If i am missing anything please add to it or if anybody hates it let me know. The first step in enacting change is identifying the need for change and clearly defining the desired outcome. One or two voices can not make a difference, we need everyones input.
From our discussion id like to see the below changed or at least be topics at the next SDWCA board meeting for them to discuss.
- Have an age as off date of 1 April to allow kids to wrestle there true age.
- Challenge matches for a true second at state.
- District or regional representatives to be apart of every SDWCA board meeting and serve as focal points for the clubs to voice there concerns. ( I think we have this but no sure as its not common knowledge who they are)
- Get rid of districts as its a waste of time. Go to regional based and qualify from there. We wrestle the same 10 kids every weekend that we wrestle at districts/regionals.
- Separation of high school and youth. High School coaches should not govern the youth as they have no stake in it.
If i am missing anything please add to it or if anybody hates it let me know. The first step in enacting change is identifying the need for change and clearly defining the desired outcome. One or two voices can not make a difference, we need everyones input.
Quote from Mustangs on April 8, 2025, 3:06 pmQuote from kylelsl on April 5, 2025, 8:10 pmFrom our discussion id like to see the below changed or at least be topics at the next SDWCA board meeting for them to discuss.
- Have an age as off date of 1 April to allow kids to wrestle there true age.
- Challenge matches for a true second at state.
- District or regional representatives to be apart of every SDWCA board meeting and serve as focal points for the clubs to voice there concerns. ( I think we have this but no sure as its not common knowledge who they are)
- Get rid of districts as its a waste of time. Go to regional based and qualify from there. We wrestle the same 10 kids every weekend that we wrestle at districts/regionals.
- Separation of high school and youth. High School coaches should not govern the youth as they have no stake in it.
If i am missing anything please add to it or if anybody hates it let me know. The first step in enacting change is identifying the need for change and clearly defining the desired outcome. One or two voices can not make a difference, we need everyones input.
Hate to make this about $ but districts is a great fund raiser for many of the youth programs if you go to a region only format that funding will be lost to those smaller schools who are not big enough to hold regions.
Quote from kylelsl on April 5, 2025, 8:10 pmFrom our discussion id like to see the below changed or at least be topics at the next SDWCA board meeting for them to discuss.
- Have an age as off date of 1 April to allow kids to wrestle there true age.
- Challenge matches for a true second at state.
- District or regional representatives to be apart of every SDWCA board meeting and serve as focal points for the clubs to voice there concerns. ( I think we have this but no sure as its not common knowledge who they are)
- Get rid of districts as its a waste of time. Go to regional based and qualify from there. We wrestle the same 10 kids every weekend that we wrestle at districts/regionals.
- Separation of high school and youth. High School coaches should not govern the youth as they have no stake in it.
If i am missing anything please add to it or if anybody hates it let me know. The first step in enacting change is identifying the need for change and clearly defining the desired outcome. One or two voices can not make a difference, we need everyones input.
Hate to make this about $ but districts is a great fund raiser for many of the youth programs if you go to a region only format that funding will be lost to those smaller schools who are not big enough to hold regions.
Quote from kylelsl on April 8, 2025, 8:51 pmQuote from Mustangs on April 8, 2025, 3:06 pmQuote from kylelsl on April 5, 2025, 8:10 pmFrom our discussion id like to see the below changed or at least be topics at the next SDWCA board meeting for them to discuss.
- Have an age as off date of 1 April to allow kids to wrestle there true age.
- Challenge matches for a true second at state.
- District or regional representatives to be apart of every SDWCA board meeting and serve as focal points for the clubs to voice there concerns. ( I think we have this but no sure as its not common knowledge who they are)
- Get rid of districts as its a waste of time. Go to regional based and qualify from there. We wrestle the same 10 kids every weekend that we wrestle at districts/regionals.
- Separation of high school and youth. High School coaches should not govern the youth as they have no stake in it.
If i am missing anything please add to it or if anybody hates it let me know. The first step in enacting change is identifying the need for change and clearly defining the desired outcome. One or two voices can not make a difference, we need everyones input.
Hate to make this about $ but districts is a great fund raiser for many of the youth programs if you go to a region only format that funding will be lost to those smaller schools who are not big enough to hold regions.
I understand that everybody's gotta eat, but your gouging the parents and coaches 1 more time for entry fees, coaches passes, and cost to travel to wrestle the same 8 kids you have wrestled all year, its too repetitive. There were how many districts that had 1-3 kids in the bracket or a lot that had only one in the bracket. I wonder where all this money goes from districts/regionals/state. It sure isn't going back to the little clubs that could use it. Just my two cents worth
Quote from Mustangs on April 8, 2025, 3:06 pmQuote from kylelsl on April 5, 2025, 8:10 pmFrom our discussion id like to see the below changed or at least be topics at the next SDWCA board meeting for them to discuss.
- Have an age as off date of 1 April to allow kids to wrestle there true age.
- Challenge matches for a true second at state.
- District or regional representatives to be apart of every SDWCA board meeting and serve as focal points for the clubs to voice there concerns. ( I think we have this but no sure as its not common knowledge who they are)
- Get rid of districts as its a waste of time. Go to regional based and qualify from there. We wrestle the same 10 kids every weekend that we wrestle at districts/regionals.
- Separation of high school and youth. High School coaches should not govern the youth as they have no stake in it.
If i am missing anything please add to it or if anybody hates it let me know. The first step in enacting change is identifying the need for change and clearly defining the desired outcome. One or two voices can not make a difference, we need everyones input.
Hate to make this about $ but districts is a great fund raiser for many of the youth programs if you go to a region only format that funding will be lost to those smaller schools who are not big enough to hold regions.
I understand that everybody's gotta eat, but your gouging the parents and coaches 1 more time for entry fees, coaches passes, and cost to travel to wrestle the same 8 kids you have wrestled all year, its too repetitive. There were how many districts that had 1-3 kids in the bracket or a lot that had only one in the bracket. I wonder where all this money goes from districts/regionals/state. It sure isn't going back to the little clubs that could use it. Just my two cents worth
Quote from SDGopher on April 9, 2025, 7:41 amHosting Districts/Regions is usually a wash for the hosting team. Especially if they hire certified refs(which I think should be mandatory). The only money that is made is off of concessions, everything else goes back to AAU.
I like the idea of splitting it up into 8 regions with the top 2 going. Or even 4 Regions with the top 4 going.
Hosting Districts/Regions is usually a wash for the hosting team. Especially if they hire certified refs(which I think should be mandatory). The only money that is made is off of concessions, everything else goes back to AAU.
I like the idea of splitting it up into 8 regions with the top 2 going. Or even 4 Regions with the top 4 going.
Quote from jobro04 on April 9, 2025, 5:59 pmQuote from SDGopher on April 9, 2025, 7:41 amHosting Districts/Regions is usually a wash for the hosting team. Especially if they hire certified refs(which I think should be mandatory). The only money that is made is off of concessions, everything else goes back to AAU.
I like the idea of splitting it up into 8 regions with the top 2 going. Or even 4 Regions with the top 4 going.
4 regions wouldnt work I don’t think. We would be very limited on locations that could host. I agree with certified refs being required and paid for by the coaches association. Quit sending $70,000 plus every year to the national AAU and keep some of that money here. Also they can pay to have the state tournament live streamed. I was told it’s about $1,200 to do that. Charge each wrestler an extra dollar to cover the cost. I would pay double the registration fee to skip districts. In the end it’s all about the money.
Quote from SDGopher on April 9, 2025, 7:41 amHosting Districts/Regions is usually a wash for the hosting team. Especially if they hire certified refs(which I think should be mandatory). The only money that is made is off of concessions, everything else goes back to AAU.
I like the idea of splitting it up into 8 regions with the top 2 going. Or even 4 Regions with the top 4 going.
4 regions wouldnt work I don’t think. We would be very limited on locations that could host. I agree with certified refs being required and paid for by the coaches association. Quit sending $70,000 plus every year to the national AAU and keep some of that money here. Also they can pay to have the state tournament live streamed. I was told it’s about $1,200 to do that. Charge each wrestler an extra dollar to cover the cost. I would pay double the registration fee to skip districts. In the end it’s all about the money.
Quote from Danny Hutcheson on April 9, 2025, 7:40 pmGetting rid of districts is a bad idea. There very next topic after next years region tournament would be parents complaining that regions needs to be seeded. That’s what districts does to an extent. Also, 90+% of the kids who wrestle post season will not qualify for state. Let them get a taste of success qualifying for regions, it’s about keeping kids out and growing the sport. As far as true second at State goes, why? We do not do it at any other level.
Getting rid of districts is a bad idea. There very next topic after next years region tournament would be parents complaining that regions needs to be seeded. That’s what districts does to an extent. Also, 90+% of the kids who wrestle post season will not qualify for state. Let them get a taste of success qualifying for regions, it’s about keeping kids out and growing the sport. As far as true second at State goes, why? We do not do it at any other level.
Quote from chalk on April 10, 2025, 8:33 am"Also they can pay to have the state tournament live streamed. I was told it’s about $1,200 to do that." Here is the thread from why last year, since it comes up every year. https://www.dakotagrappler.com/forum/topic/2024-sdwca-state-youth-tournament/#postid-7687
Regarding all the other stuff mentioned in this post and the other one I was going to comment, but not sure that will suffice, it will just keep going.
If you would like to request changes, please put your proposal together in writing, discussing how this would affect the complete series including time, format, numbers etc. List the benefits and any disadvantages that this proposal might have as well. Email it to one of the board members for consideration.
"Also they can pay to have the state tournament live streamed. I was told it’s about $1,200 to do that." Here is the thread from why last year, since it comes up every year. https://www.dakotagrappler.com/forum/topic/2024-sdwca-state-youth-tournament/#postid-7687
Regarding all the other stuff mentioned in this post and the other one I was going to comment, but not sure that will suffice, it will just keep going.
If you would like to request changes, please put your proposal together in writing, discussing how this would affect the complete series including time, format, numbers etc. List the benefits and any disadvantages that this proposal might have as well. Email it to one of the board members for consideration.
Quote from jobro04 on April 10, 2025, 12:38 pmQuote from chalk on April 10, 2025, 8:33 am"Also they can pay to have the state tournament live streamed. I was told it’s about $1,200 to do that." Here is the thread from why last year, since it comes up every year. https://www.dakotagrappler.com/forum/topic/2024-sdwca-state-youth-tournament/#postid-7687
Regarding all the other stuff mentioned in this post and the other one I was going to comment, but not sure that will suffice, it will just keep going.
If you would like to request changes, please put your proposal together in writing, discussing how this would affect the complete series including time, format, numbers etc. List the benefits and any disadvantages that this proposal might have as well. Email it to one of the board members for consideration.
Myself along with many others have sent ideas to the members of the board on more than one occasion. It’s always the same response. “ You are just stirring the pot” or “you are setting wrestling in this state back 10 years”. It’s almost like a script sheet was given to all the members. The same things keep getting brought up each year and nothing ever changes. At least this year the venue was big enough to accommodate everybody and have the older kids wrestling on full mats all weekend. Like I said in a previous post moving it to the arena in Sioux Falls is just setting it up for failure. Anything less than the experience that was provided to the athletes and fans shouldn’t be tolerated by anyone. Not only that, the venue in Rapid City is so much more accommodating. I live 5 hours from Rapid and I would rather drive all the way across the state every year and pay for a hotel room.
Quote from chalk on April 10, 2025, 8:33 am"Also they can pay to have the state tournament live streamed. I was told it’s about $1,200 to do that." Here is the thread from why last year, since it comes up every year. https://www.dakotagrappler.com/forum/topic/2024-sdwca-state-youth-tournament/#postid-7687
Regarding all the other stuff mentioned in this post and the other one I was going to comment, but not sure that will suffice, it will just keep going.
If you would like to request changes, please put your proposal together in writing, discussing how this would affect the complete series including time, format, numbers etc. List the benefits and any disadvantages that this proposal might have as well. Email it to one of the board members for consideration.
Myself along with many others have sent ideas to the members of the board on more than one occasion. It’s always the same response. “ You are just stirring the pot” or “you are setting wrestling in this state back 10 years”. It’s almost like a script sheet was given to all the members. The same things keep getting brought up each year and nothing ever changes. At least this year the venue was big enough to accommodate everybody and have the older kids wrestling on full mats all weekend. Like I said in a previous post moving it to the arena in Sioux Falls is just setting it up for failure. Anything less than the experience that was provided to the athletes and fans shouldn’t be tolerated by anyone. Not only that, the venue in Rapid City is so much more accommodating. I live 5 hours from Rapid and I would rather drive all the way across the state every year and pay for a hotel room.
Quote from Travis on April 11, 2025, 5:30 pmoverall SDWCA does a great job. I believe so weight classes could be added to the meat grinder weights… my kids are bigger and don’t have full brackets… but man some of those smaller weights with biggest brackets with kids not making it out of districts I think we are missing an opportunity to get more kids this experience.
I like true second as well
i laugh a little about the birthday moving… no matter where you move it their are kids that or born 1 day too late or one day too soon… the cut off is Jan 1 because that’s most logical because you can say
2009-2010
2011-2012
2013-2014
2015-2016
so on…
People advocating for birthday changes take your kids to national tournaments those are age of tournaments day.
overall SDWCA does a great job. I believe so weight classes could be added to the meat grinder weights… my kids are bigger and don’t have full brackets… but man some of those smaller weights with biggest brackets with kids not making it out of districts I think we are missing an opportunity to get more kids this experience.
I like true second as well
i laugh a little about the birthday moving… no matter where you move it their are kids that or born 1 day too late or one day too soon… the cut off is Jan 1 because that’s most logical because you can say
2009-2010
2011-2012
2013-2014
2015-2016
so on…
People advocating for birthday changes take your kids to national tournaments those are age of tournaments day.
Quote from kylelsl on April 12, 2025, 7:01 pmQuote from Danny Hutcheson on April 9, 2025, 7:40 pmGetting rid of districts is a bad idea. There very next topic after next years region tournament would be parents complaining that regions needs to be seeded. That’s what districts does to an extent. Also, 90+% of the kids who wrestle post season will not qualify for state. Let them get a taste of success qualifying for regions, it’s about keeping kids out and growing the sport. As far as true second at State goes, why? We do not do it at any other level.
Regions should be seeded what are you talking about, My kids have wrestled in 3 states, 2 of them have a true second and seed regionals. I even pulled tournaments from 20 other states and South Dakota is anomaly.
Quote from Danny Hutcheson on April 9, 2025, 7:40 pmGetting rid of districts is a bad idea. There very next topic after next years region tournament would be parents complaining that regions needs to be seeded. That’s what districts does to an extent. Also, 90+% of the kids who wrestle post season will not qualify for state. Let them get a taste of success qualifying for regions, it’s about keeping kids out and growing the sport. As far as true second at State goes, why? We do not do it at any other level.
Regions should be seeded what are you talking about, My kids have wrestled in 3 states, 2 of them have a true second and seed regionals. I even pulled tournaments from 20 other states and South Dakota is anomaly.
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