Girls Wrestling Duals Achieve 'Emerging Status' with MSHSL

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — A significant milestone was reached on Tuesday as girls wrestling duals were granted "Emerging Status" by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) during a board meeting. This designation marks a two-to-five year transition phase aimed at assessing the sport's viability and logistics before it can be fully sanctioned.

The approval of this status does not immediately alter the current framework; thus, a girls dual state tournament remains at least two years away. Under existing MSHSL regulations, female wrestlers can participate on boys' teams during dual meets, and several high schools across Minnesota have begun organizing all-girls dual meets or tournaments, which can occur up to eight times a season without affecting the boys' dual meet limit.

Moreover, the MSHSL has been sanctioning individual section and state tournaments for girls wrestling. This year saw an expanded state tournament that began on a Wednesday afternoon, adding an extra half-day of competition and allowing for an increased number of participants in the girls' brackets, growing from eight to sixteen wrestlers.

Additionally, the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association has successfully hosted a girls team state tournament for the past two years, with Chatfield earning a commendable second-place finish last year. When girls wrestling fully transitions to sanctioned status, teams will be able to compete in a complete schedule of 16 events, similar to boys teams, along with their own dedicated state tournaments.

In related discussions, girls flag football sought Emerging Status for the 2026-27 school year but had their proposal tabled to allow for further clarification on the sport’s rules and scheduling. The Minnesota Vikings have invested significantly in this initiative, and discussions will continue to finalize the structure for the sport's potential approval. The MSHSL also announced a new partnership with Fenworks to support Esports, which will facilitate postseason championships starting in the 2027-28 school year.