High School Division Information

2 High School Divisions - ELITE and VARSITY

WE HAVE TWO HIGH SCHOOL DIVISIONS! Here are the details:

1) The ELITE division is what the GFC was founded upon and will remain the same, with top 8 placers earning GFC All-American status and national notoriety! GET SOME!

2) The VARSITY division features all the same rules and one-day format of the ELITE division for the serious wrestlers who are looking for an opportunity to get valuable pre-season mat time against competition from around the country, but are not ready to tackle the star-studded ELITE division yet. The Varsity division is loaded with high level wrestlers each year. In 2020 we had over 650 entries in the Varsity division!

Read below for full details....

2022 GFC High School Information

Date: Saturday and Sunday October 1-2
Elite: Competes Saturday and Sunday (Oct 1 & 2)
Varsity: Competes on Sunday only (Oct 2)

Location: Wings Event Center (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

Registration: Will Open August 1

Wrestler Registration Fee:
Elite Division - $58 ($68 after Sep 1)
Varsity Division - $48 ($58 after Sep 1)
**The Grappler Fall Classic is an independent, stand-alone national event. No membership of any type is required to register**

Format: Folkstyle Wrestling, Adapted High School rules with college riding time and college extended out-of-bounds rules incorporated.

ELITE DIVISION: Day 1 will wrestle all brackets through the Championship Quarterfinals and Consolation Rd of 12. Day 2 will include Ch. Semis, Cons Quarters, Cons Semis, and all placement matches.

Match Length:
Saturday: 2:00-2:00-2:00 Championship Rounds, 2-1-1 Consolation Rounds

Sunday Elite: 2:00-2:00-2:00 All Matches
Sunday Varsity: 2:00-2:00-2:00 Championship; 2-1-1 Consolation

Overtime will consist of 1:00 Sudden Victory, then 2x:30 tie breaker periods, and finally a :30 UTB.

Awards:

ELITE DIVISION - Custom GFC wood stop-sign plaques for Top 8 Placers, Custom Award for Outstanding Wrestler and Most Falls Award. Finalists receive custom finals uniforms.

VARSITY DIVISION - Custom GFC wood stop-sign plaques for Top 4 Finishers.

Elite Seeding - Up to 16 seeded wrestlers in each weight class based on in-state success and national accomplishments.

Registration deadline to be considered for pre-seeding will be Saturday, September 24th.

Age: High School Grades 9th-12th

7th and 8th graders may jump in and #GETSOME in the High School division as well if they dare, but please know we will not stop the tournament or give additional rest time for wrestlers competing in multiple divisions.

Weight Classes:

ELITE - 98, 105, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, 215, 285 (no weight allowance)

VARSITY - 105, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 155, 167, 185, 240 (no weight allowance)

Weigh-Ins:

Friday, September 30th, 6:00-7:30pm
FAST PASS FRIDAY WEIGH-IN: 3:00-4:00pm
Saturday Morning Weigh-In (Oct 1): 6:00-6:30am (Must notify staff ahead of time to utilize this weigh in via email grapplerfallclassic@gmail.com)
Saturday, October 1st, 6:00-7:00 (Varsity Division Only)
FAST PASS SATURDAY WEIGH-IN: 3-4pm
Elite & Varsity Division are 1 weigh in. Elite competitors must weigh-in Friday or Saturday morning 6:00-6:30am. Varsity may weigh in Friday OR Saturday.

Headger: Optional, not required

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, October 1st

3-4pm - Fast Pass Weigh-Ins (Elite & Varsity)

6:00-7:30pm - Weigh-Ins (Elite & Varsity)

Saturday, October 2nd

9:00am - Elite Division Day 1 wrestling begins (goes through Ch. Quarterfinals and Cons. Rd of 12)

3-4pm - Saturday Fast Pass Weigh-In for Varsity Division

6:30-8pm - Saturday Varsity Weigh-In

Sunday, October 3rd

9:00am - Elite Division Day 2

9:00am - Varsity Division Starts, goes to completion

1pm - Elite Division Finals & Placement Matches