When it became apparent to the Missouri State High School Activities Association that the number of girls who wanted to wrestle was more than believed, officials decided that only the top three would advance from the 12 weight classes at this year’s district tournaments.
On the boys side of the ledger, the top four placers in each of their 14 weight classes get out of districts and advance to the state championships at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
MSHSAA officials decided to accept the top three girls for logistical reasons. There simply wasn’t enough room on an already packed three-day schedule for more girls.
That decision rankled some of the girls coaches from Jefferson County at the Class 1 District 1 tournament in St. Clair on Saturday, where there were 129 wrestlers on 38 teams.
It also left Seckman senior Sarah Murray (103 pounds), Festus freshman Kirsten Klein (110), Northwest junior Summer Smith (121) and Eureka freshman Skiyah Martin (187) sitting at home next week with their fourth-place medals.
Northwest head coach Ron Wilhelm is not a fan of the decision made by the state’s governing body.
“It’s devastating. To have this many schools in a district and this many participants, it would not have been hard for MSHSAA to go to a 16-man bracket,” Wilhelm said. “I hope they realize this was a mistake and change it for next year. At least give us the top four.”
The wear and tear of coaching the girls in all 12 weight classes was evident on Wilhelm’s face after the long day ended. Now he has to prepare the Northwest boys team for the Class 4 District 1 tournament at St. Louis University High on Friday and Saturday.
While all of the wrestling coaches in the county have been supportive of adding girls, the physical toll this late in the season is becoming harder to manage.
“I’m tired. The girls wrestle four or five matches, but the coaches wrestle about 150 matches,” Wilhelm said. “It’s mentally draining because it comes down to the girls’ blood, sweat and tears put in, and now we’ve got boys with dreams and goals and now we’ve got to recharge the batteries and get the boys to districts next week.”
Seckman head coach Ryan Moyer had his assistant coaches run the boys tournament the Jaguars hosted on Saturday. Like Wilhelm, Moyer would have liked to have seen the top four girls at districts make it through.
“Adding a second bubble match is basically what they did,” Moyer said. “And everyone knows that the matches to go are some of the most dramatic. “
De Soto head coach John Brown had his assistants work with the boys at Seckman. Brown joined in the chorus of coaches who thought that only accepting the top three girls from districts could have been avoided.
“It was important that I was here today with the girls and they showed me how important they are,” Brown said. “I would have preferred to see all four girls go because they work just as hard as the boys. I’m sure this will be discussed and changed in the future.
“I see the sport growing. The girls are enjoying themselves. The sport will evolve. The girls will start going to summer camps. They need it. It’s a good sport for girls.”