Definition of a Novice Wrestler: Any 1st or 2nd year wrestler who has not placed 1st or 2nd in ANY open tournament with 6 or more wrestlers in their bracket. The wrestler counts as 1 of the 6. No wrestler may remain novice for more than 2 years.
WEIGHT CLASSES
NFHS 2011/2012 New Weight Divisions
| 106 lbs | 113 lbs | 120 lbs | 126 lbs |
| 132 lbs | 138 lbs | 145 lbs | 152 lbs |
| 160 lbs | 170 lbs | 182 lbs | 195 lbs |
| 220 lbs | 285 lbs |
Three Middle Weight Classes were retained, although they are 7-8-9 in order now rather than 8-9-10.
| 145 lbs | 152 lbs | 160 lbs |
The largest weight class (285 lbs) remains unchanged as well.
General Weigh-in Procedures for High School Wrestling:
- Dual Meets – weigh in a maximum of 1 hour before the meet
(If a preliminary meet precedes a varsity meet, weigh in can occur before the preliminary.) - Tournaments – weigh in a maximum of 2 hours before the first session of each day
- Contestants must remain in the weigh in area unless permission to leave is granted by the meet administration.
- Weigh-in begins with the lowest weight class and proceeds to the next weight class. Weigh-in ends upon the completion of the highest weight class.
- The referee supervises weigh-ins
- For consecutive days of competition, there is a 1 lb.additional allowance per day, maximum of 2 lbs. This allowance requires 48 hours advance notice for opponents.
- Contestants in individually bracketed tournaments should be named by weight class prior to the end of weigh-in.
- Contestants must weigh in wearing no more than suitable undergarments.
- Failure to make weight during weigh-in disqualifies the contestant for that weight class.