TexasWrestling
It’s TIME! Time for the 2024 THSWCA State Duals.
THSWCA is excited to announce the new venue for the 2024 THSWCA State Duals at the Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls.
Kay Yeager Coliseum features stadium seating for 6500+, a jumbotron, floor space for up to 12 mats, and full access to locker rooms, hospitality and everything teams will need throughout the tournament.
Another exciting aspect of this year’s duals is the addition of the 4A division for both boys and girls. For the inaugural year, both 4A boys and girls will wrestle in two pools (POOL A and POOL B), for a total of eight teams in each division.
This year’s 4A girls team include: Dumas, West Plains, Gunter, Borger, Benbrook, Anna, Randall, and Canyon. On the 4A boys side, teams include: Dumas, Randall, Springtown, Benbrook, Hereford, West Plains, Anna, and Canyon.
THSWCA State Duals Fan Guides
Joe Hathaway (Southlake Carroll) and Jayson Conger (Azle) THSWCA President and President-Elect have the vision to grow Texas wrestling and include 4A teams in the THSWCA state duals.
Last year, Jayson sent out feedback forms about the expansion and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
“It was clear that smaller schools that compete in 4A or below in ‘ball’ sports, such as, football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball, want to compete within their own classifications,” Conger said of the feedback forms. “5A already encompasses far more schools than the 6A classifications do and those grouped into the 5A classification are expected to compete with schools that range from 50 to 2200 students enrolled in the respective schools.
So, why add an additional class to the THSWCA state duals?
“Wrestling in the State of Texas has continued to grow and add teams over the last 10 years. We’ve seen it across multiple sports, like soccer and swimming adding classifications in recent years. Coupled with the continued growth of women’s wrestling around the world, but especially with Texas being on the forefront of girls wrestling since 1999, it was time to give those smaller schools a chance to compete within their own classifications,” Conger said. “Growth isn’t going to stop so we as the Texas High School Wrestling Coaches Association thought it was the appropriate time to separate the classification further and give more teams, athletes, and fans the opportunity to experience the State Duals atmosphere and showcase their teams on a State level event.”
While we have smaller schools who don’t (yet) have wrestling, who think they can’t compete with the larger schools with more resources and budgets, this step in the right direction can shows those schools that the growth of wrestling in Texas is growing rapidly, on both the boys and girls side. The opportunities wrestling can give Texas wrestlers is limitless and can help guide many student-athletics on the path to college, where they might not have considered it in the past.
“If we want to continue to grow the sport statewide and most importantly provide opportunities for athletes to find and compete in the sport of wrestling we need to expand and welcome those smaller schools to start a program and compete within a reasonable size. I would encourage those in smaller communities to present a plan and need for wrestling and benefits of the sport to school boards and Athletic Directors,” Conger said. “The THSWCA is willing to assist in any way. Please reach out through our website and we will get in contact. Wrestling is, relatively speaking, inexpensive to start and maintain, but unlimited in the participation and competitions potentials.”
