When boys and girls wrestlers walk the mats for the 2024–25 season, they will face a new scoring system and other regulation changes, some of which will take some time for viewers to get used to.
Along with key dates you should keep in mind as the season goes on, PennLive has detailed those changes as well as what else is new in Mid-Penn Conference boys’ and girls wrestling:
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NEWS FOR 2024–2025
Earlier this year, the National Federation of State High School Associations proposed major rule modifications and new scoring guidelines, which the PIAA adopted.
Among the more obvious adjustments are the new scoring system’s increased value for back points and takedowns.
Three points are now awarded for takedowns. A wrestler who accomplishes a near fall for two seconds will receive two back points. For three seconds of criterion, three points are awarded, and for four seconds, four points.
After the fourth point is given, if the wrestler on the bottom is hurt, bleeding, or shows the official that they are hurt, they can receive a fifth point.
A three-second count used to result in two back points. Three points were awarded for a complete five-second count.
The one point contact rule, which states that wrestlers are deemed inbounds if they make only one point of touch with the boundary line, will also be applied. Wrestlers used to be deemed inbounds if both of their supporting points were inside or on the boundary line.
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Now called the ProServe Leasing Kickoff Classic, the Cumberland Valley Kickoff Tournament will take place over the weekend of December 13–14. This places the Carlisle Classic in direct rivalry with the tournament.
A nice mix of Pennsylvania schools, including Council Rock South, Downingtown West, Nazareth, and Wilson, will compete against 18 Mid-Penn teams, including CV, Boiling Springs, and West Perry.
In addition to wrestlers from schools like Central Bucks East, Central Bucks West, Dallastown, Garnet Valley, Northeastern, South Western, and York Suburban, the 22 teams competing in the Carlisle Classic will include Carlisle, Big Spring, Mechanicsburg, Red Land, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro.
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After a season in which the Mustangs advanced six wrestlers to the PIAA Class 2A state tournament and advanced to the District 3 Class 2A team semifinals, West Perry moved into the 3A division.
This makes West Perry’s path to the PIAA 3A team playoff tournament a little more difficult, but it also puts it farther away from Bishop McDevitt and other 2A private schools in the postseason.
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Kyle Shoop, who went from Boiling Springs to Trinity, is the first of five notable head coaching changes for the boys’ team in Mid-Penn.
After serving as the Bubblers’ assistant coach, Kyle Dayhoff has assumed the role of head coach at Boiling Springs.
Northern’s new head coach is Cory Johnson.Waynesboro’s current head coach is Casey Gluntis.The wrestling program at Steel-High has been taken up by Anthony Gish.
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On Saturday, December 21, Big Spring will hold the Big Spring Bulldog Tournament, its inaugural girls wrestling competition. Annville-Cleona, Bermudian Springs, Central York, Chambersburg, Dover, East Pennsboro, ELCO, Hamburg, Northern, Schuylkill Valley, and Souderton are among the teams the Bulldogs will be hosting.
On Saturday, December 21, the Camp Hill girls wrestling team will travel to Sheridan, Wyoming, to compete in a competition there. The team will raise the required monies for the trip.In addition, the Camp Hill lads have raised almost $50,000 to finance their trip to Gillette, Wyoming, where they will be taking part in the Pat Weede Memorial from December 19 to 22.
Under the direction of head coach Joshua Sherman, Chambersburg will field its first girls wresting team for the 2024–25 season. While there are many underclassmen in the field, keep an eye out for sophomore Alauna Stanton, a place-winner in Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling, who is anticipated to compete at the 170-pound weight class.
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You should mark the following important dates on your wrestling calendar:
MEN
Big Cat Brawl at East Pennsboro High School on Saturday, December 7.
Elizabethtown High School’s BAGUBA Brawl on Saturday, December 14
Penn State University’s Rec Hall will host the Central Dauphin vs. State College dual on Tuesday, December 17.
Central Mountain High School will host King of the Mountain on Friday, December 20, and Saturday, December 21.
Beast of the East at the University of Delaware on Saturday, December 21, and Sunday, December 22.
Friday, December 27, and Saturday, December 28: Canon-McMillan High School Powerade
Council Rock South High School will host Escape the Rock on Saturday, January 18, and Sunday, January 19.
Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25: Lehighton High School’s Coal Cracker
District 3 Class 2A and 3A team championships at Central York High School on Saturday, February 1.
PIAA Team Duals at Giant Center in Hershey from Thursday, February 6 through Saturday, February 8.
District 3, Class 3A sectionals at Mechanicsburg High School on Saturday, February 15
District 3, Class 2A sectionals on Saturday, February 22 at a location to be determined
Spring Grove High School will host the South Central 3A regionals on Friday, February 28, and Saturday, March 1.
Giant Center in Hershey will host the PIAA Individual Championships from Thursday, March 6 through Saturday, March 8.
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WOMEN
Boiling Springs will host the Bubbletown Girls Wrestling Classic on Saturday, December 7.
Dallastown Invitational at Dallastown High School on Saturday, December 7.
Gettysburg Duals at Gettysburg High School on Saturday, December 14.
Beast of the East visited the University of Delaware on Thursday, December 19, and Friday, December 20.
Elizabethtown Girls BAGUBA Brawl at Elizabethtown High School on Saturday, December 21
Cumberland Valley Duals at Cumberland Valley High School on Sunday, January 12.
Jim Thorpe High School will host a coal cracker tournament on Friday, January 17, and Saturday, January 18.
East Pennsboro High School’s Lady Cat Brawl on Saturday, January 25
District 3, Section 1 Tournament at Susquenita High School on Friday, February 14.
District 3, Section 2 Tournament, Saturday, February 15, TBD
Giant Center in Hershey will host the PIAA Individual Championships from Thursday, March 6 through Saturday, March 8.
(The girls’ District 3 Southcentral Regionals dates and schedule were not readily available.)
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