BILLINGS — The Montana High School Association executive board passed proposals for the MSHA to add girls wrestling and boys powerlifting as sanctioned sports during the MHSA’s annual meeting on Monday in Billings. The sports will be offered to member schools beginning with the 2020-21 school year.
It was announced in late November that the MHSA executive board would propose the additions of the sports after reviewing a study conducted by a committee suggested adding girls wrestling as a sanctioned sport in Montana. Under the current structure, where female wrestlers compete against their male counterparts, it’s believed less than 20 girls wrestlers have qualified for the state tournament in Montana’s history. Only three — former Laurel wrestler Abi Gontarek, Kalispell’s Tilynne Vasquez and Chinook’s Rebecca Stroh — have placed at state.