Story by: Wes Merriott

sobo.live will begin covering Parkway Wrestling tomorrow, and we want to make sure you are ready to follow the action! Don’t let confusing rules or points schemes prevent you from enjoying the moment, learn it now and follow along with ease.

High School Wrestling is most similar to “folk” wrestling, with the goal to pin the opponents shoulder blades (scapulas) to the mat for two seconds. This is considered a “pin,” and is the the best way to win in wrestling, akin to a KO in boxing.

Wrestlers are divided up into weight classes, and must weigh-in prior to wrestling. Wrestlers that fail to make weight are disqualified.

Scoring can be earned in multiple ways, here’s a breakdown on how to score:

There are five ways to score points in a wrestling match:

1) Takedown – (2 points) You score two points for taking your opponent down to the mat and controlling him/her.

2) Escape – (1 point) You score one point for getting away or getting to a neutral position when your opponent has you down on the mat.

3) Reversal – (2 points) You score two points when your opponent has you down on the mat and you come from underneath and gain control of your opponent.

4) Near Fall (Back Points) – (2 or 3 points) You get near fall points when you almost but not quite get your opponent pinned. A near fall (near pin) is when…

both shoulders are held for two seconds within four inches of the mat, or…
one shoulder touches the mat and the other shoulder is at a 45 degree angle coming down to the mat, or…

the wrestler is held in a high bridge or back on both elbows.

If a near fall lasts for two seconds, you get 2 points. If a near fall lasts for 5 seconds, you get 3 points.

5) Penalty Points – (1 or 2 points) Your opponent is awarded points if you commit the following infractions.

Illegal Holds – There are several holds that the referee will penalize you for without warning. (There are other holds called “potentially dangerous holds” which the referee might make you let go of but will not penalize you for).

Technical Violations- Going off the mat or forcing your opponent off the mat to avoid wrestling (“fleeing the mat.”) Grabbing clothing, the mat, or the headgear

Locked or overlapped hands – If you are down on the mat in control of your opponent, you cannot lock or overlap your hands, fingers or arms around your opponent’s body or both legs unless you have met criteria for a near pin of your opponent, or your opponent stands up and has all his/her weight on two feet, or you have lifted the opponent off the mat.

Leaving the mat during the match without the referee’s permission

Reporting to the mat not properly equipped or not ready to wrestle, or equipment that is detected as being illegal after the match has started

Unnecessary roughness

Unsportsmanlike conduct

Flagrant Misconduct (ejection, the match is over)

Stalling (you get one warning before you are penalized and points are awarded).

Incorrect starting position or false start (You get two cautions before points are awarded).

These are all the waysa wrestler can increase his score versus his opponent. When time runs, out the wrestler with the high score generally wins. Pinning an opponent stops the clock immediately, and that’s the best way to win.

Dual meet scoring – How to beat the other team

So depending on how a wrestler beats his opponent, he or she is awarded a number of team points. The team with the most team points at the end of a dual is the winner.

Fall, Forfeit, Default, Disqualification – 6 team points
Technical Fall (getting ahead of your opponent by 15 points ends the match) – 5 team points

Major Decision (winning the match by 8 – 14 points) – 4 team points

Decision (winning the match by fewer than 8 points) – 3 team points

The way a wrestler wins matters, with he or she earning more points with a better win type. Each team gets to send one wrestler per weight class, and the dual meet is over when all weight classes have been decided. In the case of a tied team score at the end of the dual meet, there are a number of tiebreakers, but the first and most commone tie breaker is the team with the most unsportsmanlike conduc points penalized, loses.

I hope this answers all of your High School Wrestling questions! This is a great individual and team sport that teaches grit, endurance, and resilience. Wrestlers also typically have incredible physical conditioning and a high level of technical skill, making each match very exciting.

sobo.live’s coverage of the Parkway Panther’s 2022-2023 Wrestling season begins tomorrow, November 15th, 2022, at Caddo Magnet High.