NMAA scales back postseason football changes

that it still gives the regular season meaning for teams that are struggling because there is always hope of winning the district tournament, which means a spot in the state tournament.

“I think that is important,” Salazar said. “It keeps everybody engaged.”

The board also elected to make three classes for wrestling (1-3A, 4A and 5A) starting next year, returning it to the composition it held from 2000-10. The board had the option of creating just a 1A-4A and 5A, but instead opted for three classes.

Santa Fe High head coach Steven Burns said the number of classes won’t affect his program since it was going to be in 5A regardless, but he felt the decision would reward smaller schools to go after state titles, especially individually.

“There was talk of going to one class,” Burns said. “The bad thing with that is that little schools like Pecos would never be able to compete with the Rio Ranchos and the Clevelands, just on sheer numbers.”

Another significant change for the wrestling community will be the seeding meetings during the week of the state championships. The board decided to hold the meeting on Mondays, using district placement and the Trackwrestling software that schools are required to use to determine seeds. Burns welcomed the change because he felt previous seeding meetings, usually held the day before the opening day of the state tournament, turned into protected arguments as coaches lobbied for their wrestlers.

“It was just who could yell the loudest and the longest,” Burns said. “The trouble with that is that we’re doing other things on Thursday — trying to get kids prepared mentally and some of them are coming in overweight — and it’s just a mess. I think the Trackwrestling system is just fine.”