INDIANAPOLIS – Start of the high school winter state tournament season opens Saturday at 32 sectional sites in the 75th IHSAA wrestling state tournament series.

A total of 316 schools will be represented this weekend by 5,640 athletes, with the top four contestants in each of the 14 weight classes advancing to one of 16 individual regionals on Saturday, Feb. 2.

South Dearborn hosts a 10-team sectional locally, with a field that includes East Central, Lawrenceburg, Batesville, Franklin County, Oldenburg Academy, Rushville, Union County and defending champion Connersville.

While competing as individuals, participants also will be accumulating points for their school toward a sectional championship on Saturday.

In a change from more recent years, the regional, semi-state and state championship teams in ensuing weeks will be determined through points scored by competitors at those respective levels of the tournament reverting to the system employed for decades prior to 1995-96.

Sectional championship teams have always been determined through the accumulation of points by individuals.

Results from Saturday’s wrestling sectionals will be posted at IHSAA.org as they become available from the host sites.