NMAA TO SANCTION GIRLS’ WRESTLING
ALBUQUERQUE, NM– The New Mexico Activities Association Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal to sanction a girls’ wrestling division that will end with a state championship event beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.
Here are some key points regarding girls’ wrestling in New Mexico:
*Note that the exact format for the State Championship is subject to changes:
- The sport has grown from 79 participants in 2017 to 165 in 2019
- An exhibition event has been held each of the last two years in conjunction with the boys’ state tournament
- New Mexico is the 18th state to sanction girls’ wrestling
- The new division will see participants qualify for the state championships via one of two regional qualifying tournaments
- Schools will be aligned regionally, keeping current district schools together wherever possible
- Each region will qualify four participants per weight class to the state tournament
- Qualifying participants will compete at the state tournament with medals awarded to the top three participants
- Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams
- Girls may compete in boys’ events during the regular season but must compete in the girls’ division during the post-season
NMAA Executive Director Sally Marquez said, “We are very excited that our Association will now officially offer a girls’ wrestling division that will culminate with a state championship. The sport has been growing fast all across the country, and we are happy to become the 18th state to sanction it.”
*For more information regarding this event, please contact Dusty Young, NMAA Associate Director at (505) 977-5385.
