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Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union

Abbreviation	IGHSAU
Legal status	Association
Purpose	Athletic/Educational
Headquarters	5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 150 West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, United States
Region served	Iowa
Membership	369 high schools
Official language	English
Executive Director	Erin Gerlich
Affiliations	National Federation of State High School Associations (affiliate)
Staff	16
Website	ighsau.org
Remarks	(515) 288-9741

The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) is the governing body for girls' junior and senior high school sports in the U.S. state of Iowa. The association promotes and regulates interscholastic sports among its member schools. Though its counterpart for boys sports in Iowa, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, is a full-time member of the National Federation of State High School Associations, the IGHSAU is only an affiliate member. It is headquartered at 5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 150,West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.

Sports currently overseen by the IGHSAU are basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, track and field, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling.

Sports previously overseen by the IGHSAU were gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and indoor track and field.

Administrative staff

Representation of the IGHSAU consists of an eight-person Board of Directors. Six positions are elected to the IGHSAU Board while two appointees representing the Iowa Association of School Boards and the Iowa Department of Education also serve. The Board of Directors approve policy changes proposed by the IGHSAU administrative staff.

The IGHSAU Representative Council meets twice a year.

IGHSAU Sport Advisory Committees

Each IGHSAU sport has an advisory committee made up of coaches, an official and an athletic director. These committees meet once a year to review their respective sports and develop recommendations for the IGHSAU administrative team to take to the IGHSAU Board of Directors.

IGHSAU Student Athlete Advisory Committee

The IGHSAU Student Athlete Advisory Committee is composed of female student-athletes from each of the state's four districts (NE, SE, NW, SW) along with three at-large representatives. Eleven girls were selected to two-year terms to meet about issues related to girls high school activities in Iowa. Committee members act as a voice for Iowa's female student-athletes and serve as a sounding board for the IGHSAU's Representative Council and the Board of Directors.

IGHSAU Executive Directors

Basketball

Classification guidelines

• 5A- Largest 40 schools by enrollment
• 4A- Next Largest 48
• 3A- Next Largest 64
• 2A- Next Largest 80
• 1A- Remaining schools

State Champions

From 1920 until 1984, there was one tournament for teams with 6 players.

From 1985-1993, there was a tournament for 5-player teams and one for 6-player teams.

From 1994-2012, there were 4 classes, all with 5 players

From 2013–present, there are 5 classes, all with 5 players

Bowling

Classification guidelines

• 3A- Largest 30 schools by enrollment
• 2A- Next Largest 30
• 1A- Remaining schools

State Champions

From 2007-2014, 2 Classes

From 2015–present, 3 classes:

Cross Country

Classification guidelines

State Champions

Source: From 1966–1977, one class:

From 1978–1980, two classes:

From 1981–2002, three classes:

From 2003–current, four classes:

Golf

The standard team scoring format for golf tournaments, per NFHS guidelines, is to add up the scores of 6 players with each player playing 2 rounds of 18 holes. Teams are then ranked according to lowest score.

Classification guidelines

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• 4A (fall golf) – Largest 48 schools*
• 3A (spring golf) – Next 64
• 2A (spring golf) – Next 96
• 1A (spring golf) – Remainder (129)

*Plus golf schools that play in 4A conferences that wish to play in the fall. In 2006–2007 there were 52 schools in class 4A

State Champions

Soccer

Classification guidelines

• 3A- Largest 40 schools by enrollment
• 2A- Next Largest 48
• 1A- Remaining schools

State Champions

From 1998–2001, one class:

From 2002–2010, 2 classes:

From 2011–present, 3 classes:

Softball

Classification guidelines

• 5A- Largest 40 schools by enrollment
• 4A- Next Largest 48
• 3A- Next Largest 64
• 2A- Next Largest 80
• 1A- Remaining schools

State Champions

From 1957–1987, one class, summer and fall seasons:

From 1988–1993, one class:

From 1994–2003, 3 classes:

From 2004–2011, 4 classes:

From 2012–present, 5 classes:

Swimming & Diving

Classification guidelines

One class of swimming and diving.

State Champions

Tennis

Classification guidelines

• 2A - Largest 48 schools by enrollment
• 1A - Remaining schools

State Champions

Track and Field

Classification guidelines

• 4A- Largest 48 schools by enrollment
• 3A- Next Largest 64
• 2A- Next Largest 96
• 1A- Remaining schools

State Champions

From 1962 to 1976: one class

From 1977 to 2003: 3 classes

From 2004 to current: 4 classes

Para Class

Volleyball

Classification guidelines

• 5A- Largest 40 schools by enrollment
• 4A- Next Largest 48
• 3A- Next Largest 64
• 2A- Next Largest 80
• 1A- Remaining schools

State Champions

From 1970–1973, one class, winter season play only:

From 1973–1980, one class:

From 1981–1993, 2 classes:

From 1994–2002, 3 classes:

From 2003–2011, 4 classes:

From 2012–present, 5 classes

Wrestling

Wrestling has been an IGHSAU sponsored sport since 2022. State championships are awarded to a single team and individuals at the individual state tournament. There is currently no team dual state championship.

On 23 May 2024, it was announced that due to the explosion of participation in the sport, wrestling would move to two classes for the 2024-2025 season. The largest 64 schools would compete in class 2A, and the remaining schools in 1A.

Weight Classifications

• 100 pounds
• 105 pounds
• 110 pounds
• 115 pounds
• 120 pounds
• 125 pounds
• 130 pounds
• 135 pounds
• 140 pounds
• 145 pounds
• 155 pounds
• 170 pounds
• 190 pounds
• 235 pounds

State Champions

From 2022–2024, one class

Defunct sports

Three sports were previously overseen by the IGHSAU. These three sports were: gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and indoor track and field.

Gymnastics

Classification guidelines

Gymnastics was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1968–1988.

State Champions

From 1968–1988, one class:

Synchronized Swimming

Classification guidelines

Synchronized Swimming was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1970–1981.

State Champions

From 1970–1981, one class:

Indoor Track & Field

Classification guidelines

Indoor Track & Field was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1965–1997.

State Champions

From 1965–1997, one class:

References

1. "IOWA HIGH SCHOOL BEDS: NUMERICAL - 2023-2024 Enrollments: Grades 9, 10, 11" (PDF).
2. Mackey, Marcus (April 26, 2024). "Erin Gerlich: New Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Executive Director". Raccoon Valley Radio. Perry, Iowa. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
3. "Erin Gerlich Named Sixth IGHSAU Executive Director". Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. West Des Moines, Iowa. April 18, 2024. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024. In April 2024, Erin Gerlich became the sixth executive director succeeding Jean Berger.
4. ^ "Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union". IGHSAU. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
5. "All Time State Tournament Results" (PDF). Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. pp. 10–17. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 15, 2014. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
6. "Cross Country Record Book" (PDF).
7. "page 13" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2008. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
8. NFHS rule book
9. "IGHSAU GOLF RECORDS" (PDF).
10. "Rankings & Archives". Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union.
11. "Swimming and Diving State Champions" (PDF).
12. ^ "TrackRecordBook" (PDF).
13. "Iowa High School State Track & Field Championships | May". results.wayzatatiming.com.
14. "Iowa High School Track & Field Championships | May 18-20". results.wayzatatiming.com.
15. "Iowa High School Track & Field Championships | May 16-18". results.wayzatatiming.com.
16. "2017 Iowa Girls Volleyball State Tournament (Class 4A) - MaxPreps". www.maxpreps.com.
17. "Girls Wrestling Moves to Two Classes". Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union.
18. "IGHSAU State Championships 2023".
19. ^ "About RRW, Raccoon River Wrestling".
20. "IGHSAU State Championships 2024".

External links

• Official website

• High school sports associations in the United States
• Sports organizations established in 1927
• High school sports in Iowa
• Women's sports in Iowa