MHSA opens door for additional sports

HELENA (AP) — The Montana High School Association is adding girls wrestling and boys powerlifting to its sports offerings, the association announced.

Schools that are members of the MHSA voted to approve both sports beginning with the 2020-21 school year.

Girls wrestling will be offered during the winter. During a two-year pilot program, girls can wrestle against male or female opponents during the regular season, but the girls will have a separate, all-class state wrestling tournament. An initial proposal recommends seven weight classes ranging from 103 to 205 pounds (47 to 93 kilograms).

In recent years, girls have been competing on boys wrestling teams.

Boys powerlifting will be offered beginning in the spring of 2021. All schools will compete in one classification and the state meet would be held in May.

The MHSA hasn’t added a sport since boys and girls soccer joined its offerings in 1991. Schools would decide whether they wanted to offer the additional sports.