FHSAA OK’s girls wrestling, will begin in 2020-21

Directors also approve girls sand volleyball as spring sport

Florida will become the 24th state to adopt girls wrestling as a sanctioned state championship sport beginning with the 2021-22 season.

The Florida High School Athletic Association board of directors voted 13-0 to approve that decision during a videoconference on Tuesday.

Proponents hoped for FHSAA status for the upcoming school year. But some board members expressed concerns that with school districts having already set budgets for 2020-21, not all would have funding in place for girls wrestling costs, including coaching supplements.

Board member Lauren Otero, an assistant principal at Tampa Plant, said it would not be fair to hold an FHSAA state championship until all member schools have the opportunity to field teams.

“For the almost 800 girls and 100 plus schools that are already doing this, they are already prepared and they’ll do what they have to do, even if they have to wrestle with boys for one more year, they are down to do that,” Tallahassee Lincoln coach Mike Crowder said. “I assume our numbers will grow astronomically, even this year.”

Girls wrestling, which has held unofficial state tournaments for years, is considered a second division of an existing sport. That means females will still be allowed to wrestle against boys in regular season matches but will soon have their own official district, region and state tournaments.

The board also unanimously approved girls sand volleyball as a spring sport. It will have recognized status in 2021-22 and become a state championship sport the