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In an 18-0 decision the IHSAA has moved forward with fully sanctioning girls wrestling as a varsity sport in Indiana. The sport was officially approved this afternoon after running as a separate event under the IHSGW since 2017 and two years under the IHSAA's Emerging Sport status. Indiana has been a training ground for many of the top women's wrestlers in the country with Olympians Sarah Hildebrandt and Kayla Miracle leading the way. Indiana has a strong tradition in women's wrestling and as a fully sanctioned sport it will continue to produce wrestlers with national and world level success.

Big changes are coming to high school wrestling this season. Over the past ten years the collegiate folkstyle rules have become almost a different sport with out of bound stalling, what determines out of bounds, and this past year the three point takedown. While many were clamoring for the college out of bounds rules with only one supporting point determining being in bounds it was repeatedly shot down by the NFHS due to mat and gym size concerns. This year though, the NFHS has decided that it is time to implement the one supporting point criteria for high school wrestling. While making the wrestling area a little bigger this rule will make it easier for referees to focus on the action instead of checking for the proper amount of supporting points of the wrestlers. On top of that change the NFHS has approved the popular three-point takedown. This year at the NCAA level they went to a three-point takedown. Many people were cautious, but also excited about that big change. After the NCAA season concluded many felt that the three-point takedown was a huge success. If these two big changes aren’t enough for you, the NFHS has also aligned with the NCAA level with adding a four-point nearfall. After four seconds on your back the offensive wrestler will now be awarded four points instead of taking five seconds to earn only three points. This was implemented in the NCAA since 2015 and last year they updated the rule to allow two points for two seconds, three points for three seconds, and four points for four seconds or more. The NFHS will follow the NCAA and implement all three scenarios for nearfall. Other rule changes include a clarification of the Technical Fall criteria and not requiring a 10-foot circle on the wrestling mat. Here is the NFHS article on the changes https://www.nfhs.org/articles/participants-now-inbounds-with-one-point-of-contact-in-high-school-wrestling/ NFHS Article.pdf