High school wrestling season begins in Section 1 with practice starting Nov. 17 with the first matches of the season starting shortly after.
A couple of things have changed since the season ended with Fox Lane’s Alex Berisha winning the 215-pound title for large schools on March 1 at MVP Arena in Albany. Here are some changes and key dates on the wrestling calendar in 2025-26.
There are new weight classes in New York State wrestling in 2025-26
New York State moved from 13 weight classes to 14 weight classes for boys wrestling for this season. The National Federation of High School Associations, which oversees rules for scholastic competition, offers a few different options for how state associations set up weight classes.
According to minutes from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s executive meeting, the changes were made to 1. preserve the lower weight classes, which have been traditional in New York, 2. add a weight class in the middle to encourage participation and 3. address the wide gap that existed between 170 and 190 in the previous format.
The new weight classes are 103, 110, 118, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215 and 285.
The weight classes in 2024-25 were 101, 108, 116, 124, 131, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 190, 215 and 285.
Weight classes in girls competitions remain 94, 100, 107, 114, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 165, 185 and 235.
“I think there’s obviously some benefits, but also some drawbacks,” Nanuet coach Sean Conklin said. “It allows more kids, both at the varsity and JV level to participate.”
Conklin noted that it’s still hard for smaller schools, of which Nanuet is one in Division II, to always have a full wrestling lineup.
Horace Greeley senior Chris Nocca, who won the Section 1 Div. I title and placed fourth in the state at 152 last season, likes the new weight classes.
“I love it because I grew a little bit over the offseason, so going from 152 to 157, it’s nice for me, even going to 165 too,” Nocca said. “Adding one right in the middle helps me a bunch. The middleweights get a couple more options.”
Adding a weight class also can help in better weight cuts for wrestlers with more options.
There will be no Section 1 divisionals this season
Another big change this season is that there will not be the traditional four divisional tournaments to determine berths in the Section 1 Division I tournament. Instead, Section 1 has moved onto a maximum 32-wrestler bracket double-elimination tournament based on points accumulated during the season.
“Personally, I love it,” Nocca said. “As someone who cuts a good amount of weight, one less weigh in and one less time I have to miss school is helpful.”
Yorktown senior Rocco Lore, who won the Section 1 Division I title at 285 pounds last season, and expects to compete at 215 this year, also supports the change.
“I do like it more because sometimes kids that should be in sectionals didn’t make it because they had a really tough division and kids who were obviously not on their level, went who weren’t as good as them.”
The Section 1 championships take place Feb. 6-8 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
Key dates on the 2025-26 wrestling calendar
Section 1 Dual Meet Tournament: Division I begins Dec. 11, quarterfinals Dec. 16, semifinals and finals at highest seed Dec. 18. Division II begins Dec. 10, quarterfinals Dec. 15, semifinals and finals at highest seed Dec. 17.
Eastern States Classic: Jan. 9-10 at Impact Athletic Center, Halfmoon.
Shoreline Classic at New Rochelle: Jan. 17.
Somers tournament: Jan. 17.
State Dual Meet Tournament: Jan. 31, SRC Arena & Events Center, Syracuse.
Westchester County Championship: Jan. 24 at TBA.
Rockland County Championship: Jan. 24 at TBA.
Section 1 Div. II Boys Championship: Feb. 6 at Westchester County Center, White Plains.
Section 1 Div. I Boys Championship: Feb. 7-8 at Westchester County Center, White Plains.
Section 1 Girls Championship: Feb. 7 or 8, Westchester County Center, White Plains.
NYS Girls Championship: Feb. 26, MVP Arena, Albany.
NYS Div. I and Div. II Boys Championship: Feb. 27-28, MVP Arena, Albany.
Phil Strum is local sports editor for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: New rules, what’s changed, key dates in Section 1 and NYS wrestling for 2025-26?
Reporting by Phil Strum, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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