Wrestling Postseason to Include Semi-State Round Before State

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The postseason for high school wrestling will have a different look in 2021 due to COVID-19 guidelines that limit the number of people who can attend.

The KHSAA Board of Control voted Wednesday to implement a semi-state round after the region round with the top two finishers at semi-state the only ones who advance to the state meet.

Under the current format, the top four wrestlers in each weight class advance from the region tournament to the state tournament.  That results in 448 wrestlers on-site for the two-day event in addition to 250 coaches and over 100 workers.  COVID-19 restrictions that limit the number of people on site have made that format impossible for 2021.

Under the one-year change, the region tournament will be held the week of March 8.  The top four wrestlers in each class would advance from region to a semi-state round held the week of March 15 at four different geographical locations in the state.

The top two wrestlers in each class at the semi-state round would advance to the state tournament to be held the week of March 22.  Any points accumulated in the semi-state round will carry over to the state tournament for the purpose of determining a team champion.  KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett said this option allows fans to attend each round of the postseason.

The board did not specify the locations of the semi-state rounds and the state tournament.

The 5,517-seat Alltech Arena in Lexington is the normal location for the state wrestling tournament.  The arena is owned by the state and managed by the Kentucky Horse Park, which has also hosted the state cross country meet on its grounds.  However, that state meet was moved to Paris because the horse park is not hosting events during the pandemic.

Alltech Arena is currently serving as a regional COVID-19 vaccination site for central Kentucky which makes it unavailable for the state tournament.

Tackett said a large high school will likely host the state wrestling tournament.

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