Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling are the most popular wrestling styles, so we’ll try to give a detailed explanation of the weight classes in the two of them. But we will also focus on some other styles too.

Competitors in wrestling are categorized depending on their age and weight class. Unlike in BJJ, there is no open weight in Greco-Roman or freestyle, but other promotions could be more flexible. It’s time to describe the different wrestling weight classes in tournaments!

Olympic Vs International Wrestling Classes

In an international or Olympic tournament, you can see three types of wrestling weight classes – men’s freestyle wrestling, men’s Greco-Roman, and female’s freestyle wrestling. There are fewer divisions in the Olympic Games, and becoming an Olympian is harder.

There are fewer competitors, but also fewer differences between the mat Gods. The best of the best take part in the Olympics for a reason.

• Men’s Freestyle Wrestling

The ultimate difference between freestyle and Greco-Roman is the ability to grab your opponent under the waist. You can grab his legs, feet, ankles, or thighs to get the advantage.

Now let’s see how do the weight classes look like (the last change happened in 2018).

• 53 kg (115 lbs) – non-Olympic, international.
• 57 kg (125 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 61 kg (134 lbs) – non-Olympic, international.
• 65 kg (143 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 70 kg (154 lbs) – non-Olympic, international.
• 74 kg (163 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 79 kg (174 lbs) – non-Olympic, international.
• 86 kg (190 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 92 kg (203 lbs) – non-Olympic, international.
• 97 kg (214 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 125 kg (276 lbs) – Olympic, international.

• Men’s Greco-Roman Wrestling

Here is a brief look at the style where you mustn’t grab your foe under the waist:

• 55 kg (121 lbs) – non-Olympic, international.
• 60 kg (132 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 63 kg (139 lbs) – non-Olympic, international.
• 67 kg (148 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 72 kg (159 lbs) – non-Olympic, international.
• 77 kg (170 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 82 kg (181 lbs) – non-Olympic, international.
• 87 kg (192 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 97 kg (214 lbs) – Olympic, international.
• 130 kg (287 lbs) – Olympic, international.

• Women’s Freestyle Wrestling

Here is a difference in wrestling weight classes for females:

• 50 kg (110 lbs) – Olympic, international;
• 53 kg (117 lbs) – Olympic, international;
• 55 kg (121 lbs) – non-Olympic, international;
• 57 kg (126 lbs) – Olympic, international;
• 59 kg (130 lbs) – non-Olympic class, international;
• 62 kg (137 lbs) – Olympic, international;
• 65 kg (143. lbs) – non-Olympic, international;
• 68 kg (150 lbs) – Olympic, international;
• 72 kg (159 lbs) – non-Olympic, international;
• 76 kg (168 lbs) – Olympic, internation

International Youth Weight Divisions

There are three age categories, both for males and females, starting 2019 – under 15 (U15), cadets (16-18), and juniors (18-20). Juniors can compete with seniors on a particular medical piece of paper.

Men’s Wrestling Weight Classes

There is no difference between Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling classes.

U15 Boys Wrestling Weight Classes

14-year-olds and 15-year-olds can compete, plus 13-year-olds with a particular medical certificate and their parent’s signature.

Here are the weight classes:

• 34–38 kg (75-84 lbs).
• 41 kg (90 lbs).
• 44 kg (97 lbs).
• 48 kg (106 lbs).
• 52 kg (115 lbs).
• 57 kg (126 lbs).
• 62 kg (137 lbs).
• 68 kg (150 lbs).
• 75 kg (165 lbs).
• 85 kg (187 lbs).

• Cadets Boys Wrestling Weight Classes

This is for 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds. A 15-year-old is allowed to participate with a special medical piece of paper. Look at the weight classes below:

• 41 to 45 kg (90 to 99 lbs).
• 48 kg (106 lbs).
• 51 kg (112 lbs).
• 55 kg (121 lbs).
• 60 kg (132 lbs).
• 65 kg (143 lbs).
• 71 kg (157 lbs).
• 80 kg (176 lbs).
• 92 kg (203 lbs).
• 110 kg (243 lbs).

• Juniors Boys Wrestling Weight Classes

This is for competitors aged 18 to 20, but 17-year-olds can also participate with a special medical piece of paper. Look at the 10 weight divisions below:

• 57 kg (126 lbs).
• 61 kg (134 lbs).
• 65 kg (143 lbs).
• 70 kg (154 lbs).
• 74 kg (163 lbs).
• 79 kg (174 lbs).
• 86 kg (190 lbs).
• 92 kg (203 lbs).
• 97 kg (214 lbs).
• 125 kg (276 lbs).

• Women’s Wrestling Weight Classes

The same rules apply here, but the weight classes are different. Also, females can only compete in freestyle wrestling, there are no Greco-Roman female tournaments.

Girls U15 Wrestling Weight Classes

Younger girls are also divided into 10 weight classes:

• 29 to 33 kg (64 to 73 lbs).
• 36 kg (79 lbs).
• 39 kg (86 lbs).
• 42 kg (93 lbs).
• 46 kg (101 lb).
• 50 kg (110 lbs).
• 54 kg (119 lbs).
• 58 kg (128 lbs).
• 62 kg (137 lbs).
• 66 kg (146 lbs).

Cadets Girls Wrestling Weight Classes

Also, 10 divisions:

• 36 to 40 kg (79 to 88 lbs).
• 43 kg (95 lbs).
• 46 kg (101 lbs).
• 49 kg (108 lbs);
• 53 kg (117 lbs);
• 57 kg (126 lbs);
• 61 kg (134 lbs);
• 65 kg (143 lbs);
• 69 kg (152 lbs);
• 73 kg (161 lbs). 

Juniors Girls Wrestling Weight Classes

Here are the following ten weight divisions:

• 50 kg (110 lbs).
• 53 kg (117 lbs).
• 55 kg (121 lbs).
• 57 kg (126 lbs).
• 59 kg (130 lbs).
• 62 kg (137 lbs).
• 65 kg (143 lbs).
• 68 kg (150 lbs).
• 72 kg (159 lbs).
• 76 kg (168 lbs).

The United States Wrestling System

Wrestling is popular in the United States of America, and the scholarship system is pretty much unique. There are different rules for every age.

Elementary School Wrestling

There are multiple ways of determining weight classes at this age:

• Madison system – no weight classes, the wrestlers are paired according to the weight at the weigh-in into brackets to discourage weight cutting at young athletes;
• Division-based system – separation by age and weight class at the tournament director’s discretion.
• Pure-weight-based system – age doesn’t matter, weight does – fighters are divided exclusively by weight.

Middle School Wrestling

It might vary from state to state, but we will focus on OHSAA weight classes:

• 80 lbs.
• 86 lbs.
• 92 lbs.
• 98 lbs.
• 104 lbs.
• 110 lbs.
• 116 lbs.
• 122 lbs.
• 128 lbs.
• 134 lbs.
• 142 lbs.
• 150 lbs.
• 160 lbs.
• 172 lbs.
• 205 lbs.
• 245 lbs.

High School Wrestling 

Fourteen weight classes are set by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), but there are specific weight classes from state to state, we will focus on the general ones:

• 106 lbs.
• 113 lbs.
• 120 lbs.
• 126 lbs.
• 132 lbs.
• 138 lbs.
• 145 lbs.
• 152 lbs.
• 160 lbs.
• 170 lbs.
• 182 lbs.
• 195 lbs.
• 220 lbs.

Collegiate Wrestling System

Collegiate wrestling is extremely popular in the United States of America, and it is probably the only federation where women can choose to fight under Greco-Roman rules.

First, let’s focus on the male divisions approved by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA):

• 125 lbs.
• 133 lbs.
• 141 lbs.
• 149 lbs.
• 157 lbs.
• 165 lbs.
• 174 lbs.
• 184 lbs.
• 197 lbs.
• Heavyweight (183 lbs to 285 lbs).

NCWA approves eight weight divisions for female competitors who pick Greco-Roman (collegiate) instead of freestyle ruleset:

• 105 lbs.
• 112 lbs.
• 121 lbs.
• 130 lbs.
• 139 lbs.
• 148 lbs.
• 159 lbs.
• 200 lbs.

Finally, WCWA uses freestyle wrestling rules instead of collegiate ones for females, and this organization offers ten weight divisions:

• 101 lbs.
• 109 lbs.
• 116 lbs.
• 123 lbs.
• 130 lbs.
• 136 lbs.
• 143 lbs.
• 155 lbs.
• 170 lbs.
• 191 lbs.

Conclusion

Wrestling is a trendy sport, a member of the Olympic family for a long time. We hope this article helped you understand the differences in weight classes between different organizations.

It is tough to qualify for the Olympic Games because only some International weight divisions are allowed in the Olympics.

The United States of America offers its own weight classes, which might vary from state to state. And please, don’t forget about youth competitions, their weight division rule set is different too!

Did you enjoy this article? Do you have some dilemma about the weight classes of one of the oldest martial arts on the planet? Please don’t hesitate to ask a question in the comments below!

References

• Wikipedia.org

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