Tournament Formats for Team Duals
Dual events could be one or two days.
VHSL only allows wrestlers to get 6 matches per day, therefore, some teams will bring more than one person for a weight class.
Typically dual events are only 5 rounds per day anyway with each round being 90 minutes long.
Most of the time each team faces every other team. If there are many teams, then typically there are several "pools" whereby the better teams face one another the next day. In other words, they try to pair "like" teams together later in the tournament.
Each round starts at the lowest weight class then proceeds to the next higher one after each match.
Team members sit next to each other or close by.
Wrestlers must be ready and report to the score table immediately when it is their turn (otherwise the team loses a point).
Tournament Formats for Open Individual Style Bracket Events
If 16 teams attend, the event will typically use 16-man brackets.
VHSL limits each wrestler to 6 matches per day, each spaced by 30 minutes minimum.
Wrestlers could be assigned any mat for any match and then be assigned another mat later in the event.
Coaches and managers typically watch for mat assignments.
Matches are tracked on a phone-app called "TrackWrestling" or "TrackWrestling Mobile"
Typically, the lower weight classes go first.
Wrestlers must be ready and report to the score table immediately when it is their turn (otherwise they forfeit).
The brackets are explained below.
If a winner keeps going they would have 4 matches.
One loss then places wrestlers into the consolation bracket to fight for 3rd place.
Each wrestler gets 30 minutes in between each match.
Note a rule change for season 2023-2024 allows six matches per day with 30 minutes in between each.
Brackets are adjusted to only allow 10 matches over a 2-day period maximum.
Championship matches are often held under the light one match at a time!