IHSAA Approves Girls Wrestling As Emerging Sport

Story by Kyle Neddenriep

The Indiana High School Athletic Association voted to add boys volleyball and girls wrestling as emerging sports by a unanimous vote Monday at the annual board of directors meeting.

The IHSAA voted last year to adopt an emerging sports process, which helped pave the way for girls wrestling and boys volleyball to be added. The IHSAA will now provid backing for the two sports with an eye toward becoming officially recognized sports when 50% of the membership is participating in the sport.

The Indiana Boys Volleyball Coaches Association has been administering its state tournament since 1994, while the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association has been conducting a girls wrestling state tournament since 2017. There are currently 42 schools fielding boys volleyball teams in the state and 350 girls representing 113 schools in girls wrestling. The IHSAA has 407 member schools.