Unattached wins
Quote from Jon Mentele on January 15, 2026, 10:50 amWhat's some opinions on if matches won while wrestling unattached at a varsity tournament counting towards their total high school record? Not sure how schools do it.
What's some opinions on if matches won while wrestling unattached at a varsity tournament counting towards their total high school record? Not sure how schools do it.
Quote from jobro04 on January 15, 2026, 2:31 pmI’m not sure how our team does it. In my eyes a win at a varsity tournament is a win that should go on your record.
I’m not sure how our team does it. In my eyes a win at a varsity tournament is a win that should go on your record.
Quote from dooder66 on January 15, 2026, 11:56 pmI wanna know how many are counting byes, forfeits, and JV wins? I can't understand how so many kids are possibly getting the win numbers that they claim to be getting without them.
I wanna know how many are counting byes, forfeits, and JV wins? I can't understand how so many kids are possibly getting the win numbers that they claim to be getting without them.
Quote from chalk on January 16, 2026, 9:32 amI agree with counting wins when an athlete is wrestling unattached in a true varsity-level competition. That said, some schools may apply different criteria for counting wins, lettering, or other recognition based on factors such as whether team points are scored.
However, JV wins—whether from JV tournaments (such as the Rumble on the Red JV or the Rapid City Invite JV) or from before/after-dual exhibition matches—should not be included in a wrestler’s varsity record. This is especially important when South Dakota varsity tournament seeding uses win percentage as part of the criteria.
The TrackWrestling system used in South Dakota appears to count all wins by default, regardless of level, and most teams do not seem to remove JV results. I’m not sure whether this is due to how JV tournaments and matches are set up in the system, the additional backend work required to separate them, or simply a lack of oversight or concern.
In reference to what is supposed to count per SDHSAA at the end of the year for the region seeding criteria: (Page 8 & 9 https://sdhsaa.com/Handbook/ATH-Wrestling.pdf)
- The entire season varsity record is to be used for seeding, regardless of the weight class. This would include out-of-state and tournament matches.
- Forfeits will count as wins. Defaults and disqualifications will count as wins and/or losses. In Tournament competition, should a wrestler choose not to compete against an opponent in any round, it will count as a forfeit and therefore a loss.
- Byes do not count as wins.
Regarding wins in general, there are now many opportunities for a wrestler to reach 40–50 or more wins in a season based on the number of tournaments, duals, and state duals available. Byes are not being counted, in my opinion.
Ultimately, what each family or program chooses to count as wins is up to them. If an athlete is accumulating a high number of wins, they are likely a strong competitor regardless. Comprehensive season and career record tracking in South Dakota is difficult to find, and wrestlers today are competing in far more matches than they did in the 1980's. As a result, many historical records have already been—or are continuing to be—broken.
I agree with counting wins when an athlete is wrestling unattached in a true varsity-level competition. That said, some schools may apply different criteria for counting wins, lettering, or other recognition based on factors such as whether team points are scored.
However, JV wins—whether from JV tournaments (such as the Rumble on the Red JV or the Rapid City Invite JV) or from before/after-dual exhibition matches—should not be included in a wrestler’s varsity record. This is especially important when South Dakota varsity tournament seeding uses win percentage as part of the criteria.
The TrackWrestling system used in South Dakota appears to count all wins by default, regardless of level, and most teams do not seem to remove JV results. I’m not sure whether this is due to how JV tournaments and matches are set up in the system, the additional backend work required to separate them, or simply a lack of oversight or concern.
In reference to what is supposed to count per SDHSAA at the end of the year for the region seeding criteria: (Page 8 & 9 https://sdhsaa.com/Handbook/ATH-Wrestling.pdf)
- The entire season varsity record is to be used for seeding, regardless of the weight class. This would include out-of-state and tournament matches.
- Forfeits will count as wins. Defaults and disqualifications will count as wins and/or losses. In Tournament competition, should a wrestler choose not to compete against an opponent in any round, it will count as a forfeit and therefore a loss.
- Byes do not count as wins.
Regarding wins in general, there are now many opportunities for a wrestler to reach 40–50 or more wins in a season based on the number of tournaments, duals, and state duals available. Byes are not being counted, in my opinion.
Ultimately, what each family or program chooses to count as wins is up to them. If an athlete is accumulating a high number of wins, they are likely a strong competitor regardless. Comprehensive season and career record tracking in South Dakota is difficult to find, and wrestlers today are competing in far more matches than they did in the 1980's. As a result, many historical records have already been—or are continuing to be—broken.
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