In a significant move for high school sports in Indiana, the IHSAA board of directors has officially recognized girls wrestling and boys volleyball as fully fledged sports. Both sports had previously been approved as emerging sports in 2022, with the goal of achieving full recognition this year.
The growth of girls wrestling has been nothing short of impressive, with participation increasing from just over 300 girls five years ago to 1,444 girls from 177 high schools this winter. IHSAA commissioner Paul Neidig spoke about the sport’s rapid expansion, noting that it was a testament to the dedication and hard work of coaches, parents, and athletes.
Boys volleyball, on the other hand, was expected to experience slower growth due to the need for a minimum number of athletes per team. However, there are now 105 schools registered to participate in boys volleyball this spring, which surpasses the threshold of 100 schools needed for full recognition across Indiana’s three districts. This is an exciting development for fans of the sport and those involved in it.
During a previous meeting with athletic directors at Plainfield, there was overwhelming support for adding girls wrestling and boys volleyball as recognized sports. A straw poll showed that 62 out of 66 attendees voted in favor of both sports becoming fully recognized.
As we continue to monitor this developing story, updates will be provided as more information becomes available. For further inquiries, contact Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
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