last updated November 1, 2025

Varsity letters go to those:

1. in good standing, 

2. who sufficiently met the school's grading policies which are evaluated by mid-January, 

3. with no more than 3 unexcused absences according to the school's student handbook,

4. with no more than 3 excused absences according to the coaches',

5. weighed-in for at least one half of the season events, and 

6. qualified for at least one weight class for the post-season district/conference/region event by actually wrestling at that weight (which is required by VHSL) even if you do not wrestle in the actual post-season championships, plus satisfy items 1-5 above.

Notes:  

• To qualify for the post season championships, athletes have to (a) officially weigh-in, and (b) actually wrestle a real match at that weight class of the one just above it.

• Post season events may count.

Therefore, Lightridge coaches strive to participate in at least 10 tournaments which translates into varsity letter opportunities for those that participate in at least five events.

Events where coaches can weighin multiple athletes for varsity positions include:

• Four January conference duals

Participation in an event is declared when an athlete successfully weighs-in for a particular weight class even if they never actually wrestle in that event. This allows the coach to ensure there is a backup person for the position or maintain a tactical advantage by having a choice for which athlete to compete in a given weight class. 

Additional opportunities for weigh-ins or actual competition are seen below. Sometimes coaches will arrange varsity exhibition matches at these events to obtain extra match opportunities for secondary athletes. 

Events where coaches can somewhat enter secondary athletes selectively are:

• December Harrisonburg bracket tournament

• January Annandale Fallout Duals

• January Chantilly Duals

• January Meridian Duals

Events where coaches are unable to weighin backup athletes are:

• December King of the Rock bracket tournament

• December Battle at the Bridge bracket tournament

• January Panther Paul VI bracket tournament

VHSL allows teams to schedule a maximum of 12 tournaments upon which 8 may be events with more than four teams. 

Teams are not required to have 12 tournaments. 

Snow days may often cancel tournaments with no makeup dates. 

In order to actually participate in the post season championships, consider the following.

Participation in the post season district/conference/region championships involves coaches's discretion or wrestle-offs for a specified weight class upon approval of the coaches, or by someone who participates by replacing the primary person who got sick or injured.