The 1970s
The Maryland Public Schools started the first statewide high school wrestling tournament in 1970. The format would change as would the weight classes over the years, but this was the first event that provided a way for Maryland high school wrestlers to compete against other Maryland high school wrestlers from all parts of the state.
The first state public school state championship was held in 1970.
The weight classes for that tournament were 98, 107, 115,123, 130, 137, 145, 155, 165, 185, Hvy (Unlimited).
There are no results as of yet from 1970. A strike by the Baltimore SunPapers during the tournament meant no results were published.
The weight classes were changed for the 1971 season with the addition of an additional weight class. The weight classes would stay in this format until the 1998 season.
Weights: 98, 105, 112, 119, 126, 132, 138, 145, 155, 167, 185, HVY
There was some consternation in the public state certification body, the MPSSAA, when in 1976 the Prince Georges County Department of Education voted to lower their academic eligibility standards for athletic competition. Currently the MPSSAA requires only that every athlete be under the age of 20, be in good amateur standing, officially registered in a public high school, be certified physically fit, and have parental permission. Currently each county decides their own eligibility standards and many are tougher than the state standards.