NCHSAA to try girls wrestling state tournament, approves classification appeals from area schools

There will be a girls wrestling state invitational tournament in North Carolina. And three area schools will be joining new conferences.

The one-year trial for girls wrestling was approved during the N.C. High School Athletic Association Board of Director’s winter meeting. Previously, girls wrestled in the boys championship.

The board also approved requests from three area schools to change classifications or join conferences.

▪ Beginning next fall, Lawndale Burns will leave the Big South 3A and drop to 2A. It will play in the Southwestern 2A conference.

▪ Christ The King’s request to be placed in a 1A conference was approved. Beginning in the fall, the school will compete in the Southern Piedmont 1A and Football Only Conference A.

▪ West Caldwell’s request to drop down in class was approved. Beginning next fall, West -- currently in the Northwestern 3A/4A conference, will play in the Northwestern Foothills 2A.

▪ Appeals from Monroe High and Monroe Parkwood High to drop from 3A to 2A were denied.

In other changes from the meeting, the board:

▪ Approved an increase in varsity officiating fees for officials in football and basketball, bringing the NCHSAA into better alignment with other state associations in the southeast. An adjustment was also made to the playoff officiating fees beginning in the third round when neutral crews are assigned in an effort to compensate officials for the extra distance traveled for these contests. This change is effective for the 2019-2020 school year.

▪ Mandated that baseball and softball coaches in the coaching box on the field must be wearing a helmet or hard skull cap-style helmet during play for safety. This change is effective immediately.

▪ Adjusted the tournament regulation and weekly limitation for volleyball.

▪ Heard reports from board subcommittees about crafting a policy for Home School and Transgender Participation. The Board has tasked the staff with further formatting draft policies and seeking feedback from City/County ADs and selected membership groups. A ruling could come next spring.

Currently, student-athletes must be enrolled at the school where they compete. There’s been a recommendation that would allow home school students to take classes on campus or take at least one class on campus and a virtual or community school college course in order to participate in NCHSAA sports. That recommendation has not been voted on.