Wrestling coaches from around Iowa have been hoping to see the state dual tournament moved away from the traditional event.

The move was finally made on Wednesday, headlining other changes to the postseason beginning in 2022-23.

There will be no more sectional competition, as qualifying turns to a district-only format in all three classes. The state dual meet will be the first Saturday of February, Feb. 4, following regional duals on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The regional dual qualifiers will be determined by IWCOA dual team rankings.

“There is no perfect answer for everything,” said FDSH head coach Bobby Thompson said. “It was good to get the duals away from traditional state, and now, hopefully teams can focus on one tournament at a time.”

St. Edmond, which competes in Class 1A, will follow a new district-only qualifier. Class 1A and 2A expands to 12 districts with eight or nine teams at each.

“I do agree with the state dual tournament being moved. I think that was the No. 1 goal,” said SEHS head coach Eugene Carlson. “We just have to adjust. These kids may not be used to it at first, but we will just move forward.”

With the absence of sectional wrestling, there will be a two-week gap before districts.

“Not competing in state duals would take a week out of competition,” Carlson said. “Without a meet that weekend, that will give programs extra time to rest up and prepare (for districts).”

District wrestling will be held on February 11, 2023.

“I’m not sure how things are going to work out with the districts,” Carlson said. “With the smaller schools, it will be tough to fit all of the fans into the building.

“It makes it tough on spectators. Putting that many people at one site, you are going to miss some matches.”

An additional recommendation for 24 qualifiers per weight class at traditional state was also formally approved — up from 16.

In Class 3A, the top three wrestlers from each weight will advance to traditional state.

“My understanding is that the top three out of eight districts will qualify for state (in 3A),” Thompson said. “We will also expand to 24 in each bracket at state. I’m sure they are working that process out.

“It helps for teams and kids who compete in loaded districts.”

State duals has been the day before traditional state at Wells Fargo Arena since 2012. The tournament’s first year as an IHSAA championship was 1987, and has previously been hosted by Cedar Falls, Marshalltown, and then Cedar Rapids before its move to Des Moines.

Traditional state will now be moved back to a four-day format. The new state dual location has yet to be determined.

“I’m not a big fan of four days because of the hotel expenses, the food and the missed school,” Thompson said. “I would have liked to see traditional state stay at three days.”

The IHSAA will continue to use 14 weight classes after NFHS provided states an option to adopt 12, 13, or 14 weight classes for state competition in 2023-24.

“One thing that I was disappointed in was the weights,” Thompson said. “There was a plan where we could have dropped to 10 or 12 weights.”