Lightweight wrestler headgear

The field of the invention pertains to the sport of wrestling and, in particular, to protective headgear worn by participants. The protective headgear is primarily directed to prevention of damage to the ear pinnae. The first such headgear specifically for the protection of wrestlers' ears was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,898,596 and has been very successfully used in collegiate wrestling. New lightweight wrestler headgear comprises an inner soft plastic cushion for contact with the wearer and an outer hard shell having a plurality of swirling or sweeping curved protrusions intended to suggest the swirling clouds of a tornado. In the depressions or valleys between the swirls are a large number of vent holes that effectively remain uncovered for good hearing regardless of the activity during a wrestling match. The inner cushion and outer shell are peripherally shaped with concave outer edges between locations where straps are attached to the inner cushion and outer shell. Because of the novel peripheral shapes and the protruding swirls the outer shell can be made exceptionally light and strong with little impairment of hearing.