Latest variances for wrestling

 

There will be wrestling for Colorado schoolboys as well as the first sanctioned season for schoolgirls in the new Season B in 2021, but similar to other sports during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic it will look, feel and operate like no other year in the level’s first century.

High-end tournaments that are so popular and drew well? Out. Any gatherings with five-or-more teams? Also out. More than 25 wrestlers in a gym at one time? No chance. A combined, five-classification, three-day Colorado tournament that commands attention and caps the season about as well as any other sport? Forget it. And the special moment of a referee raising the hand of a winner after a match? Yeah, that will be different, too.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Education approved assorted variances this week, including for wrestling’s condensed, seven-week season, and the changes are considerable.

Following is a breakdown:

--- Practice begins Jan. 18. First matches Jan. 25.

--- 20-match maximum for the regular season or four per week.

--- A maximum of 25 wrestlers in a match room at any one time. There are 14 weight classes for boys -- male matches will have to be staggered – and 10 for girls, which can include entire squads.

--- Tri-meets and quad-meets are permitted, but no more than four teams.

--- Wrestlers will wear masks up to the point that they put on their colored ankle bands to head to the center of the mat. They may remove masks for a match, but must put them back on once the match is completed. And referees will not touch competitors; the winner’s hand will be raised separately.

--- Regular season will end Feb. 27. Regionals: March 5-6. Colorado tournament: March 12-13 (TBA).

--- Regionals will follow a two-day, 16-wrestler-per-weight bracket. The first seven weight classes will occupy the first day; the next seven have Day 2.  Wrestlebacks will only occur following the third round. First- and second-placers will qualify for the state tournament.

--- The state tournament will have one day for each class as opposed to three. There will be eight-wrestler brackets and full wrestlebacks. Team scores at regionals and state will score placers one through four. However, if one venue is used for the tournament, a second day may be added to complete the season.