8th grade has always been one of the years for many wrestlers to get their first taste of high school wrestling. It is a natural progression. I have had several 8th graders (very good wrestlers)who did not make it to state at 14 & under and then they went on to have tremendous high school careers. It is what it is and currently this age group has a choice to stay in their age group or wrestle up in the high school division 14-19 year olds.