West Virginia Approves Girls' Wrestling as Preliminary Sanctioned Sport

New state championship to be established starting in 2026-2027 school year

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) has voted to approve girls' wrestling as a preliminary sanctioned sport, starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This decision establishes an official girls' wrestling state championship, with a regional qualifying format separate from the boys' tournament. The WVSSAC cites significant growth in girls' wrestling participation in recent years, with over 300 student-athletes competing across 86 schools in the state.

Why it matters

The move to make girls' wrestling a preliminary sanctioned sport in West Virginia represents an important step in legitimizing the sport and supporting its continued growth at the high school level. This decision provides female student-athletes with a clear pathway to compete for a state championship, while allowing schools the flexibility to develop their programs without the full infrastructure demands of a fully sanctioned sport.

The details

The WVSSAC's Board of Directors voted on Tuesday night to approve girls' wrestling as a preliminary sanctioned sport starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This decision establishes an official girls' wrestling state championship, which will be supported by a regional qualifying format and held as a separate event from the boys' state wrestling tournament. The WVSSAC notes that girls' wrestling has seen significant growth in recent years, with 142 student-athletes participating in 2023 and over 300 across 86 schools this year, making up a total of 27 full teams.

  • The WVSSAC Board of Directors voted on Tuesday, February 18, 2026 to approve girls' wrestling as a preliminary sanctioned sport.
  • The new girls' wrestling state championship will begin in the 2026-2027 school year.

The players

Wayne Ryan

WVSSAC Executive Director

Meredith Dailer

WVSSAC Board of Directors Chair and Principal at Wheeling Park

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What they’re saying

“The WVSSAC is excited to add girls wrestling to our championship offerings. We're proud of the growth and progress that this sport has made in recent years, and this move gives these athletes a clear pathway to compete for a state championship while allowing schools to continue strengthening and expanding their programs.”

— Wayne Ryan, WVSSAC Executive Director (wowktv.com)

“The vote for preliminary sanctioning of girls wrestling is an important step in legitimizing the sport while supporting its continued growth. This reasonable and flexible approach ensures our female student-athletes have the opportunity to compete and allows the sport to develop in a thoughtful, sustainable way.”

— Meredith Dailer, WVSSAC Board of Directors Chair and Principal at Wheeling Park (wowktv.com)

What’s next

The new girls' wrestling state championship will be held for the first time in the 2026-2027 school year, with a regional qualifying format leading up to the final state tournament.

The takeaway

The WVSSAC's decision to make girls' wrestling a preliminary sanctioned sport represents an important milestone for female student-athletes in West Virginia. By establishing an official state championship and providing a flexible framework for program development, the WVSSAC is helping to elevate and grow the sport at the high school level, giving more young women the opportunity to compete and succeed.