Parents - All the things you need to know

Practices are 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday, unless there's a meet or a tournament.  The expectation is that all athletes will attend all practices unless excused.  Should your athlete be injured they will still want to work with coach to discuss it - in the case of minor injuries, the school has a trainer on staff that the athletes can work with.  IMPORTANT: There is practice over Thanksgiving weekend as well as over Winter Break.  The expectation is that if your athlete is in town, they will attend.  This is especially important if they are competing in either of the tournaments scheduled over Winter Break.  In past years there have been tournaments over Winter Break, if possible avoid travel so as to not miss them - tournaments are some of the best opportunities for growth and competition!

League meets are double dual meets with our partner school, we will attend all meets with that school and split home meets with half at their school and half at our school, with the finale a single meet against our meet partner.  Double duals means that all meets aside from the finale will be 2 meets in one evening.  Here's how it works: once everyone is at the venue, athletes will weigh in.  The varsity matches are set ahead of time, and the coaches will work to put together JV matches based on who is available.  All matches, both varsity and JV, are dependent on the weight classes that the other team brings, so there is always an element of unpredictability.  Athletes are expected to take the bus with the team.

Tournaments take place on the weekends, and are an excellent opportunity for wrestlers to get matches in.  Any tournament within Northshore, parents/athletes will provide their own transportation.  Outside of the district, transportation is provided.  At the venue, the athletes will weigh in and then once that is completed the brackets are set by the organizers.  Matches start in order of weight class, with the lightest starting first and progressing all the way through to the heaviest.  Larger tournaments can be all day affairs, so plan ahead. 

Hygiene is a thing with wrestling.  Because of the close quarters and contact, skin conditions are a risk.  Wrestlers need to shower when practice is finished and never re-use practice clothing.  Coaches will also do regular skin checks.  

Wrestling is divided into weight classes.  They are as follows:

Boys Girls

106 100

113 107

120 114

126 120

132 126

138 132

144 138

150 145

157 152

165 165

175 185

190 235

215

285

Weight is managed on a regular basis, with baseline measurements taken at the start of the season including hydration and body fat percentage.  These are important because 1) there is a minimum body fat percentage that an athlete cannot go under and 2) should an athlete wish to move weight classes, there is a descent plan as defined by the WIAA (meaning, the wrestler cannot lose too much weight too fast).  Ultimately the priority is the athlete's health.

In the event of multiple wrestlers in a single weight class, the varsity match is determined at practice by "Challenge Matches" one to two days prior to the meet.  If you have a question about the process you may ask your wrestler or the coach, but otherwise the expectation is that the varsity lineup is strictly a wrestling room topic and as noted in the "Coach's Expectation" section it is an off limits topic.

Each school is eligible to bring 2 athletes per weight class to KingCo.  The tournament takes place at one of the member schools, and last year 3A was a single day tournament (albeit a long one).  All wrestlers are encouraged to come and support the team and to stay even after their last match.  The top 4 placers in each weight class will go on to State.  The WIAA Mat Classic is in mid-February, February 19th and 20th, at the Tacoma Dome.

Meets and Tournaments take place in the gymnasium at the school hosting.  Park in the front and go in through the main entrance unless you are completely sure you know where you are going.

There is admission charged to watch - for meets, you can purchase online at www.gofan.com and for tournaments it'll be cash at the door.  

Food.  Tournaments and meets have concessions onsite and we'll have snack signups, however you may still want to pack food for your wrestler and yourself.