OHSAA sanctions girls wrestling, boys volleyball starting in 2022-23

Over 18 months after the Ohio Girls Wrestling Task Force called for the Ohio High School Athletic Association to approve the addition of girls wrestling, that wish has been granted.

At the January OHSAA Board of Directors meeting Thursday, the board voted to sanction both girls wrestling and boys volleyball beginning in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, the OHSAA will be exploring a potential Esports tournament.

For the past two seasons, the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association

has been conducting a girls wrestling tournament. The Ohio High School Boys Volleyball Association has held its own tournament since 1988.

"The OHSAA has been talking with the boys volleyball and girls wrestling leaders for several years, and we are now in the position to bring these two sports into the OHSAA," OHSAA executive director Doug Ute said in a statement. “This move will help those sports continue to grow and allow those student-athletes to compete for an OHSAA state championship. It gives more kids opportunities, and that is the mission of the OHSAA.” bjohnson@dispatch.com @baileyajohnson_

OHSAA. SHANE FLANIGAN/THISWEEK In the future, matches like this 106-pound state tournament bout between Olentangy Orange's Lucy Scheibeck and New Richmond's Kaitlyn Fisher will be sanctioned by the