From the Rhode Island Interscholastic League:

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League will be providing additional participation opportunities for girls during the 2023-24 winter sports season beginning on Monday, November 27, 2023.

Girls wrestling weight classes will be offered for the first time in league history as female wrestling will be integrated into the existing Dual Meet Schedule as well as In-State Tournaments offered by member schools during the regular season. The RIIL State Meet will add the opportunity to compete in 12 weight classes exclusive to females with a chance to earn entrance into the 59th New England Championship beginning on Friday, March 1st at the Providence Career & Technical Academy in Rhode Island.  This will mark the first time girls weight classes are offered at the RIIL State and New England Championships.

Within the RIIL, the number of female wrestlers competing with their respective schools’ coed teams has grown significantly over the last decade, jumping from 8 participants in 2014 to 68 last winter (2022-23).  According to the National Girls High School Wrestling Summary compiled by the USA Wrestling Girls High School Development Committee, like Rhode Island, the five other high school state associations in New England have experienced a similar upward climb in participation numbers since 2014. The RIIL and its member schools are excited to offer this opportunity in 2023-24 and hope to mirror the growth of girls wrestling occurring nationally as a result.