wvmat.com

So how will the new classifications work with wrestling? No way we will have three individual state champions per weight.

This is awful. I would love to have a conversation with someone who can actually do something about this.
If this passes and we go to a 3 class (AAAA, AAA, AA/A) tourney this is how it looks:

AAAA:
R1-5 teams
R2-6 Teams
R3-4 Teams
R4-5 Teams

AAA:
R1-8 Teams
R2-4 Teams
R3-11 Teams
R4-6 Teams

AA/A:
R1-12 Teams
R2-15 Teams
R3- 9 Teams
R4- 12 Teams

In the "top 2" divisions, there are some cases you have to win one match to go to the state tourney (or probably just weigh in). Heck, there will probably be a lot of byes...There has to be a better way. This waters down our state championship in a sport that doesn't need watered down.

IMO, Swimming is a "one-class" system and they have 56 schools. Wrestling has 97ish schools listed above. I bet half or more have less than 10 of the 14 weights. I'm in favor of a single state championship and this 3 class structure actually benefits our team.

We must do better...

****EDITED: Copied and pasted wrong columns. This is the regions as they stand now if the 4 class system passes and no regional changes.

AAAA:
R1 Buckhannon-Upshur, Morgantown, Preston, University, Wheeling Park
R2 Hedgesville, Jefferson, Martinsburg, Musselman, Spring Mills, Washington
R3 George Washington, Oak Hill, Riverside, Woodrow Wilson
R4 Cabell Midland, Huntington High, Hurricane, Parkersburg High, Parkersburg South


AAA:
R1 Bridgeport, Brooke, Fairmont Senior, John Marshall, East Fairmont , Hampshire , Keyser , North Marion 
R2 Elkins , Grafton , Lewis County , Robert C Byrd 
R3 Capital, Greenbrier East, Nitro, Princeton, South Charleston, St Albans, Bluefield , Herbert Hoover , Nicholas County , PikeView , Shady Spring 
R4 Spring Valley, Winfield, Chapmanville Regional, Lincoln County , Point Pleasant , Ripley 


AA/A
R1 Berkeley Springs , Frankfort , Oak Glen , Tyler Consolidated , Weir , Cameron , Hundred , Madonna , Magnolia , Paden City , St Marys , Wheeling Central 
R2 Braxton County , Clay County , Doddridge County , Lincoln , Moorefield , Petersburg , Philip Barbour , Roane County , South Harrison , East Hardy , Gilmer County, Liberty Harrison , Notre Dame , Pendleton County, Ritchie County 
R3 Independence , Liberty Raleigh , Midland Trail , River View , Greenbrier West , Meadow Bridge , Richwood , Webster County , Wyoming East 
R4 Buffalo , Logan , Mingo Central , Poca , Ravenswood , Sissonville , Williamstown , Calhoun County , Man , Tug Valley, Wahama , Wirt County 

It feels as though wrestling in West Virginia is moving backwards. As a coach and fan of the sport, I want the state tournament weekend to be the best product possible. The state population is decreasing, participation in the sport is decreasing, and it is decided that we should divide our product even further.

If this decision is what we are going to have to work with, then something needs to be figured out with regionals (or do away with them completely). I have broken down this past years regional participation numbers with next years proposed regions. I only did this with the proposed AAAA, but as you will tell, these numbers are alarming.

Region 1: Buckhannon-Upshur, Morgantown, Preston, University, Wheeling Park

106 - 3
113 - 3
120 - 3
126 - 4
132 - 4
138 - 4
144 - 4
150 - 4
157 - 5
165 - 5
175 - 5
190 - 5
215 - 5
285 - 4


Region 2: R2: Cabell Midland, Huntington High, Hurricane, Parkersburg High, Parkersburg South

106 - 4
113 - 5
120 - 4
126 - 5
132 - 5
138 - 5
144 - 4
150 - 5
157 - 5
165 - 5
175 - 5
190 - 5
215 - 5
285 - 5


Region 3 R3: Hedgesville, Jefferson, Martinsburg, Musselman, Spring Mills, Washington

106 - 5
113 - 5
120 - 6
126 - 5
132 - 5
138 - 6
144 - 6
150 - 5
157 - 6
165 - 5
175 - 5
190 - 6
215 - 6
285 - 5

Region 4 R4: George Washington, Oak Hill, Riverside, Woodrow Wilson

106 - 2
113 - 3
120 - 4
126 - 3
132 - 3
138 - 4
144 - 4
150 - 4
157 - 4
165 - 3
175 - 4
190 - 4
215 - 3
285 - 3


Danny Doyle

It feels as though wrestling in West Virginia is moving backwards. As a coach and fan of the sport, I want the state tournament weekend to be the best product possible. The state population is decreasing, participation in the sport is decreasing, and it is decided that we should divide our product even further.

THIS.

A population of roughly the size of the greater Pittsburgh area and 3 different classifications. People should feel proud of even participating in the state tournament not just showing up and weighing in and getting a slot.

I want solid first round matches, not blowouts and byes.

Just sad.

Looking at the alignments y'all are wishing for, Hundred, Paden City, and Liberty Harrison are all shutting down. You forgot to take them out.

How is the State Tournament going to work? We are adding a tournament with 224 wrestlers not to mention the girl division there will not be enough seating on Saturday. We can look at Ohio and maybe mirror their schedule.

I don't believe using a state that has a population twice ours is good fix to use their model. I would like to see AAAA and AAA combined AA and A combined, six place winners in each division with Championship and runner up awards for each of the four classifications.
Just a thought!

Did what has been posted above pass? or is it still under consideration?
I could possibly see a AAAA/AAA tournament and the AAA champion decided like they do in the A/AA tournament now.
What is posted above makes absolutely no sense for WV to go to

Here is a screen shot of what is posted on WVSSAC. Looks like nothing is changing.

REGIONAL ALIGNMENT
2 CLASSIFICATION SPORTS


DIVISION 1
Wrestling
REGION I
Brooke, John Marshall, Morgantown, Wheeling Park, Fairmont Senior, Buckhannon-Upshur, Bridgeport, Preston, University
REGION II
Spring Mills, Hedgesville, Martinsburg, Musselman, Jefferson, Washington
REGION III
Capital, George Washington, Nitro, Saint Albans, South Charleston, Woodrow Wilson, Princeton, Greenbrier East, Oak Hill, Riverside
REGION IV Cabell Midland, Huntington, Spring Valley, Hurricane, Parkersburg, Parkersburg South


2 CLASSIFICATION SPORTS
Wrestling

DIVISION II
REGION I
Cameron, East Fairmont, Weir,, North Marion, Oak Glen, Wheeling Central, Madonna, Valley, St. Marys, Tyler Consolidated, Magnolia, Doddridge County, Ritchie County, Williamstown, Wirt County
REGION II
Elkins, Lewis County, Lincoln, Roane County, Robert C. Byrd, Phillip Barbour, South Harrison, Grafton, East Hardy, Moorefield, Notre Dame, Petersburg, Braxton County, Frankfort, Keyser, Berkeley Springs, Hampshire
REGION III
Bluefield, Shady Spring, PikeView, Nicholas County, Liberty Raleigh, Independence, Greenbrie West, Richwood, River View, Webster County, Meadow Bridge, Midland Trail, Herbert Hoove Wyoming East, Clay County
REGION IV
Chapmanville, Buffalo, Ripley, Poca, Point Pleasant, Sissonville, Man, Mingo Central, Central, Tug Valley, Wahama, Logan, Calhoun County, Parkersburg Catholic, Ravenswo Lincoln County, Winfield

I was supposed to have received an official communication from the WVSSAC, according to an email I received on June 9, but I have yet to receive anything.

Once I finally hear from them, I'll make an official post on the site.

Well, I've finally received a document from the WVSSAC, but I emailed them back with questions.

I asked if we're going back to only awarding team titles, outstanding wrestlers, COY, etc. in only two divisions now instead of three.

There are some teams that I'm not seeing on the list. I'm going to review the list and check with Mr. Comer to see if those schools have been overlooked.

masonbailey wrote:This is awful. I would love to have a conversation with someone who can actually do something about this.
If this passes and we go to a 3 class (AAAA, AAA, AA/A) tourney this is how it looks:

AAAA:
R1-5 teams
R2-6 Teams
R3-4 Teams
R4-5 Teams

AAA:
R1-8 Teams
R2-4 Teams
R3-11 Teams
R4-6 Teams

AA/A:
R1-12 Teams
R2-15 Teams
R3- 9 Teams
R4- 12 Teams

In the "top 2" divisions, there are some cases you have to win one match to go to the state tourney (or probably just weigh in). Heck, there will probably be a lot of byes...There has to be a better way. This waters down our state championship in a sport that doesn't need watered down.

IMO, Swimming is a "one-class" system and they have 56 schools. Wrestling has 97ish schools listed above. I bet half or more have less than 10 of the 14 weights. I'm in favor of a single state championship and this 3 class structure actually benefits our team.

We must do better...

One tournament. Take 32 wrestlers place top 8. OW for each division. You can still have team champs for each division.

I've heard back from Mr. Comer. Gilmer County and Pendleton County were missing from the list, so he is going to add them and get me a new list.

He did break down the Division II teams by AA and A, so I was happy about that!

There is a lot of regional realignment, so I'll be making a lot of changes to the regional map pages.

They are still undecided as to what to do for awards such as team titles for each division. Here's a copy of what I sent him in an email:



Just my two cents on the awards situation.

The state tournament could be handled in a similar way to what the OVAC does.

The WVSSAC could award the following:

Team awards:
Division I overall team winner
Division I overall team runner-up

AAAA team winner (no AAA team runner-up)
AAA team winner (no AAA team runner-up)
One of these would be in the same photo as the overall winner. For instance, at the 2025 OVAC tournament, University was both the Overall and 5A team winner.

Division II overall team winner
Division II overall team runner-up

AA team winner (no AA team runner-up)
A team winner (no A team runner-up)

This would result in no more photos than we had in the past, and may actually result in two less photos if the runner-up team is from the smaller classification in the division (for instance, if Fairmont Senior and/or Cameron had finished as runner-up).

Using 2025 as an example, here's a possible scenario:
Division I:
Division I overall team winner - University
Division I overall team runner-up - Parkersburg
AAAA team winner - University (no additional photo)
AAA team winner - Fairmont Senior

Division II:
Division II overall team winner - Point Pleasant
Division II overall team runner-up - Herbert Hoover
AA team winner - Point Pleasant (no additional photo)
A team winner - Cameron

There would be three different team photos for each division.

Coaching awards:
Rod Oldham Division I Coach of the Year
Manning/Stump Division II Coach of the Year (combining the AA and A COY awards, but still recognizing the coaches for whom each award was named)

Outstanding wrestler awards:
Division I outstanding wrestler
Division II outstanding wrestler