Girls wrestling will become a MSHSAA sponsored sport starting with the next school year of 2018-19.
The proposal was passed by MSHSAA in its annual election by a margin of 202 votes for and 41 against.
MSHSAA communications director Jason West confirmed that the state event will take place in conjunction with the boys state championships held in Columbia at the end of February.
The district tournaments for the girls will take place the week prior to the boys districts. Last year there were 108 Missouri schools with at least one girl on the wrestling eligibility roster.
Girls and boys will compete separately from each other in the postseason, but during the regular season, for the first couple years at least, girls will have the option to compete on the boys team in tournaments and duals.
