Since someone mentioned changing the weights in another post I thought I’d bring it up and see if anyone wanted to discuss it.
I’ve thought about the weight classes off and on for years and I’ve always wondered if there is any reason for what is chosen. I know the last change in ’98 they just added 7 lbs to each weight. I decided to do a little research and here’s what I found. I hope this mostly correct as I got it off of WrestlingStats.com.
From 1928 to 1951 they changed the weights 10 times resulting in 7 different weight sequences. 1928, 1932, 1936 and 1948 were Olympic years thus the weight changes.
1928 had 7 weights; 115, 125, 135, 145, 158, 175, Hvy
1929 and 1930 had 8; 115, 125, 135, 145, 158, 165, 175, Hvy
1931 through 1938 had 8; 118, 126, 135, 145, 155, 165, 175, Hvy
Except for 7 in 1932; 123, 134, 145, 158, 174, 191, Hvy
And again 7 in 1936; 123, 134, 145, 158, 174, 191, Hvy
1939 through 1950 had 8; 121, 128, 136, 145, 155, 165, 175, Hvy
Except for 8 in 1948; 114, 125, 136, 147, 160, 174, 191, Hvy
1952 to 1969 (18yrs) jumped to 10; 115, 123, 130, 137, 147, 157, 167, 177, 191, Hvy
1970 to 1998 (29yrs) had 10; 118, 126, 134, 142, 150, 158, 167, 177, 190, Hvy
1999 to now (26yrs) still 10; 125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197, 275
The question is why this break down? Each has an 8lb difference until 184 jumps 10 and then 197 jumps 13. I don’t understand why we couldn’t just go to 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 275 or 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 275.
Throughout the history of collegiate wrestling (and Olympic) the weights seem to have been arbitrary chosen.
I’ve thought about the weight classes off and on for years and I’ve always wondered if there is any reason for what is chosen. I know the last change in ’98 they just added 7 lbs to each weight. I decided to do a little research and here’s what I found. I hope this mostly correct as I got it off of WrestlingStats.com.
From 1928 to 1951 they changed the weights 10 times resulting in 7 different weight sequences. 1928, 1932, 1936 and 1948 were Olympic years thus the weight changes.
1928 had 7 weights; 115, 125, 135, 145, 158, 175, Hvy
1929 and 1930 had 8; 115, 125, 135, 145, 158, 165, 175, Hvy
1931 through 1938 had 8; 118, 126, 135, 145, 155, 165, 175, Hvy
Except for 7 in 1932; 123, 134, 145, 158, 174, 191, Hvy
And again 7 in 1936; 123, 134, 145, 158, 174, 191, Hvy
1939 through 1950 had 8; 121, 128, 136, 145, 155, 165, 175, Hvy
Except for 8 in 1948; 114, 125, 136, 147, 160, 174, 191, Hvy
1952 to 1969 (18yrs) jumped to 10; 115, 123, 130, 137, 147, 157, 167, 177, 191, Hvy
1970 to 1998 (29yrs) had 10; 118, 126, 134, 142, 150, 158, 167, 177, 190, Hvy
1999 to now (26yrs) still 10; 125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197, 275
The question is why this break down? Each has an 8lb difference until 184 jumps 10 and then 197 jumps 13. I don’t understand why we couldn’t just go to 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 275 or 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, 200, 210, 275.
Throughout the history of collegiate wrestling (and Olympic) the weights seem to have been arbitrary chosen.