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New high school wrestling rules favor offense

New rules include three-point takedown and four points of near fall

By Nick Zeller-Singh Sports Reporter

High school wrestling will mirror the NCAA’s recent rule changes by making the sport more offensive-focused at the local level.

The National Federation of State High School Associations has changed five rules for the 2024–25 wrestling season. 

“Where it is really going to benefit kids is the kids in shape,” Tim Thon, a Whatcom County wrestling referee, said. “It makes wrestling more exciting.” 

The biggest adjustment is changing a takedown from two points to three. A takedown is when one wrestler takes their opponent down to the mat from a neutral position. Then, the wrestler must gain control by forcing at least the opponent’s knees or hands to touch the mat.

The two-point takedown has been around the sport for decades but was ultimately changed to three points in college last year.

“It is going to kill me because I’m used to yelling ‘That’s two!’” Mount Baker’s coach Ron Lepper said. “Now I have to say three, and I’m not there yet. We like to be on our feet. You get two takedowns compared to an escape and it is 6-1.”

The three-point takedown was first utilized at Bellingham High School at a double dual this season with Bellingham, Lynden, Mount Baker and Mount Vernon. The outcome of the matches tended to be higher scoring.

The new rule for near-fall points is also leading to higher-scoring matches. Near fall is when a wrestler in the top position turns his opponent’s shoulder(s) past 45 degrees for a period of time and is close to pinning them.

In the past, high school wrestlers could get two points if they had between two to four seconds of near fall and three points for five or more seconds. This season, wrestlers will be awarded two points for two seconds, three points for three seconds and four points for four or more seconds.


“A kid down in the third round and down by six points, they can reverse to the back and tie the match,” Thon said.

The third rule: only one point of contact by either wrestler meets the criteria of being inbounds. In the past, wrestlers needed two feet or body parts to remain in bounds. Now, wrestlers can keep one foot in and continue to wrestle.

“It is really important to wrestle on the edge,” Bellingham coach Tylor LaBelle said. “We were telling the guys you got to wrestle on the edge. Both guys can be almost completely out, and we still need to work on that a bit.”

The other two rules include eliminating the 10-foot circle in the middle of the mat, and creating a signal for a referee’s time-out when they need to address a situation not covered by injury, blood or recovery time.

Although these two rules play less of a factor, it has been shown to affect the strategy and judgment of coaches, wrestlers and referees.

“Stalling is going to be harder to call,” Thon said. “We need to recognize if a guy is backing up early. You will evaluate stalling based on what wrestlers were doing. One of the big things now is them backing up.”

Although the rules are new to coaches and wrestlers, most say they are optimistic about the future of high school wrestling.

“It is more exciting and techs are a bit quicker,” LaBelle said. “It is great to see a guy up by 10.”

Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN's sports reporter; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.

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