Andy Buhler

The Columbian

All boys and girls regional wrestling tournaments scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled due to weather conditions, the WIAA announced on Friday morning.

Instead, the Mat Classic field will double to a 32-entry state tournament beginning Feb. 15. In the past, it has been a 16-entry tournament.

The cancellation came a day after the association gave the go-ahead for the event and sent out its inclement weather policy, which says teams not able to travel to their regional tournament would forfeit.

Some coaches and athletic directors say the cancellation forces a format they have advocated for in the past — no regionals, 32-entry Mat Classic.

“We’ve been trying to get a 32-man tournament for years,” Union wrestling coach John Godinho said. “We vote every year on it, WIAA says no, no, no.”

Camas athletic director Rory Oster also prefers a system where wrestlers qualify to state straight from the district tournament.

“I love it,” Oster said. “People have been pushing to get it done for years. I hope this is an opening into future.”

The Mat Classic will still be hosted at the Tacoma Dome. Schedule will be released Monday morning.

Here is the WIAA’s release:

Due to the weather conditions, the WIAA has cancelled all boys and girls regional wrestling tournaments in the best interest of safety and equal opportunity for all participants.

To address these cancellations, the WIAA staff and event managers are developing a 32-entry WIAA Mat Classic tournament that will begin on Friday morning, February 15, 2019. The details of that schedule will be released by early Monday, February 11.

Participants, parents and coaches are advised to work through their school administration with any further questions.