MIDVALE — A postseason basketball tournament featuring the championship from Utah’s different classifications?
How about a football game matching the 5-A champion against the 4-A champion?
What about a Utah soccer tournament featuring the top teams from across the state, World Cup style?
Not yet. But this last week, the executive committee of the Utah High School Activities Association voted to sanction of a wrestling tournament that will feature place winners from each of the five UHSAA classifications.
The tournament, set for the weekend after the state championships, will take place Feb. 22-23 at Maverik Center .
The grant of sanction is a major step for the UHSAA as the organization which governs many of the activities in which Utah high school students participate.
In the past, the UHSAA has sanctioned postseason all-star games for seniors only. Granting a sanction to a tournament of this type which could include participants in any grade. It’s unusual, but not without precedent for the UHSAA.
“Wrestling seems a good fit for this type of competition,” said Bart Thompson UHSAA assistant director who oversees wrestling. “There is little overlap with spring sports by the time this tournament finishes and in fact basketball will continue for another week in several classifications.”
Several executive committee felt it a positive step to sanction the competition and see how it goes in fulfilling the objectives of the UHSAA and its member schools as they serve students.
The Utah Wrestling Coaches Association was supportive of the tournament.
“Utah has been and continues to be a great state for high school wrestling. This will be a great showcase for the talent we have here,” UWCA president John Fager said.
The tournament will be a USA Wrestling event.
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