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 2022 we had over 500 entries in the Varsity division!

Read below for full details....

2023 GFC High School Information

Date: Saturday and Sunday, September 30 - October 1st
Elite: Saturday September 30
Varsity: Sunday October 1st

Location: Wings Event Center (Kalamazoo, Michigan)

Registration: Will Open August 1

Wrestler Registration Fee:
Elite Division - $60 ($70 after Sep 1)
Varsity Division - $50 ($60 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.

Match Length:
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 Plaque 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, 200, 250 (no weight allowance)

Weigh-Ins:

Weigh-Ins: Held @ Wings Event Center

Friday, September 29-
-- Friday Fast Pass Weigh In - 3:00-4:00pm
-- Friday Weigh In - 5:30-7:00pm

Saturday, October 1
-- Saturday Morning Weigh In - 6:30-7:00am (must be pre-registered)
--Saturday Fast Pass Weigh-In - 3:00-4:00pm
-- Saturday Weigh In - 5:30-7:00pm

Sunday, October 2nd
-- Sunday Morning Weigh-In (for Varsity Division) - 6:30-7:00am (must be pre-registered)

Anyone competing Saturday OR Sunday can weigh-in on Friday. Friday's weigh-in will be good for both days of competition if competing multiple days.

Headger: Optional, not required

HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, Sep 29

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

5:30-7:00pm - Weigh-Ins (Elite & Varsity)

Saturday, September 30

9:00am - Elite Division begins and goes to completion

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

6:00-7:30pm - Saturday Varsity Weigh-In
7:00pm (estimate) - Elite Finals

Sunday, October 1st

6:30-7:00am - Sunday morning Varsity Weigh-In

8:00am - Varsity Division Starts, goes to completion