What to know about college wrestling weight classes
How many weight classes are there in college wrestling? Can I move on to the college level? There’s no denying it: the transition from high school to college sports is tough. Student-athletes go from being the very best in their class to constantly competing for a spot. This is especially true for men’s wrestling, where 14 high school weight classes dwindle down to the 10 college wrestling weight classes established by the NCAA: 125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197 and heavyweight (183 to 285).
Once the NCAA determines a wrestler’s weight class, the athlete can’t compete below it and can only compete one level above it. This rule serves as a safety measure to prevent wrestlers from dropping too much weight too quickly. In fact, some schools require extensive weight certifications that include body composition and hydration tests. But it also means that college coaches need to be strategic in their recruiting methods.
To predict a student-athlete’s collegiate weight class, coaches look at how the recruit has competed over the course of a few years. For example, if a high school wrestler started at 106 his freshman year, then competed at 113 his sophomore year, and netted out at 120 his senior year, the coach will note this athlete’s gradual growth and most likely recruit him for 125. On the other hand, student-athletes who make major jumps from year to year could be considered for higher weight classes than they’re currently competing. Some wrestling coaches may even go as far as to look at the recruit’s parents to gauge where they’ll end up. But as a general rule of thumb, college coaches try to predict how much higher a recruit will go in weight classes, not lower.
Even so, many college wrestlers continue to develop and get stronger after high school, which is why redshirting is more common in wrestling than other sports. Redshirting means the athlete can’t compete for one academic year, but they can still participate in practice. By doing so, they gain a fifth year of eligibility. This is a good solution for some college wrestlers who are preparing to jump weight classes, or for freshman who are still adapting to collegiate competition.
Another important consideration is the distribution of college wrestling weight classes. There’s an average of 29 wrestlers on a team, but they aren’t always distributed evenly. Naturally, many college wrestlers fall somewhere right in the middle—between 149 and 174. So, coaches might only have one or two wrestlers on each end of the spectrum.
But the easiest way to determine a coach’s recruiting needs is by looking at their roster. How many wrestlers are in your desired college wrestling weight class? Are they upperclassmen who are getting ready to graduate? Taking time to study a team’s roster can provide insight into a coach’s recruiting strategy and help you gain a competitive edge.
What do coaches look at when evaluating college wrestling recruits?
When evaluating recruits, college coaches look closely at technical development. They don’t want to bring on someone who needs to be taught the fundamentals. Instead, they seek out technically sound wrestlers who have potential to improve. But measuring potential can be a tough task. One way they accomplish this is by seeing how the recruit performs against high quality athletes. In college, student-athletes will be competing against the top wrestlers in the nation and it’s important for coaches to see if they can hold their own. Additionally, they might follow a wrestler’s performance over time. Recruits who continue to rank higher year-over-year show coaches they haven’t yet reached their potential. But keep in mind that when it comes to being offered a scholarship, there’s so much more to it than athleticism.
College coaches want to recruit student-athletes with a strong academic history, leadership qualities and mental toughness. If it boils down to picking between two recruits, coaches will compare transcripts and even network with high school coaches to learn more about a recruit’s character. They’re looking for someone who will be a good fit athletically, academically and culturally.
Wrestling recruiting guidelines by division level
Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 | |
Division 1 | High Division 2, 3, and NAIA | Division 2, 3, and NAIA | Low NAIA and Junior College | |
High School Experience | Multiple time State champion and national tournament placement. High national ranking on sites like FloWrestling or InterMat Wrestling. Top 1-5% of high school wrestlers are recruited by D1 schools. | D2: High State placement. Nationally ranked on sites like FloWrestling or InterMat Wrestling. D3 and NAIA: State tournament experience. Winning Regional and District Titles. | 3-year Varsity experience. High District and Regional placements. Off-season wrestling is encouraged. | At least 2 years Varsity experience. |
Wrestling Skills | Wrestles off-season at a competitive club. Attends FS/GR National Events, Super 32 and NHSCA Nationals. Achieves high placement(s) at those events. | Belongs to off-season club program. Attends state championship events and achieves successful results. Attends National level events. | Pre-season club wrestling is a plus. Attends combines and camps to gain exposure with college programs. | Attends combines camps and clinics. Isn’t a member of an off-season club due to multiple sport obligations. |