Maybe it's me, or maybe it's because my son has never been fortunate enough to be in that position. But it seems to me that after placing at highschool state, maybe you're good enough to wrestle in the highschool division. To me it's like a kid winning or placing in open tournaments, but continuing to wrestle novice. What are you really proving?

Well it took longer than I thought ......

If a 14/under kid places at high school state, he's still 14/under. Right? I think it would not be all bad to get rid of anything over 14/under at kids. Maybe 16/under but the high school division is watered down to say the least at kids state in my opinion. And I have a 16 year old.

I guess it comes down to what kind of person you are. One who collects trophies, brackets, and medals. Or one who truly wants to test himself.

My son is a 7th grader and will wrestle a highschool kid at subs 14under! Age is still close so I'm good with it! Still a Kid!

It's not a hobby it's a sport!

Would you suggest that a 10 and under state placer last year should skip 12 and under this year and wrestle 14 and under?

Zach Campbell
316-734-6748

Nothing cooler than kicking the crap out of a highschool state placed not matter the division

I have seen High School State Champions wrestle in the 14U division and get beat by 8th graders. Don't look at it as an unfair advantage, look at it as an opportunity. These kids have been wrestling each other every other year since they were 6. Why should they stop wrestling each other just because one is in High School now. Next year they are going to have to wrestle them in High School plus the Jr.'s and Sr.'s. Let them wrestle their age division. No Big Deal.

Here's what I say to those with a problem with state placers wrestling 14U: Not going to apologize for my kid's decision. He really grappled (ha no pun intended) with whether to do 14u or HS. He is a young freshman, turning 15 in late
May so don't feel like the 8th graders will be at an age disadvantage. HS State was a lot of pressure and he decided for Kids State he would go up in weight and wrestle for fun without the pressure - win or lose. We are proud of him and support him and he is in no way a medal chaser - that's insulting. If you knew him you would agree.

We say bring on the HS state placers that want to wrestle 14u, up a weight class and 'just for fun' - give our 8th grade boys someone to beat! There is just as much pressure for the 14u kids club kids as there is for HS kids.
If you're worried about your kid wrestling a HS kid this year, you probably should think about this being his/her last year in the sport. He/she just might be wrestling an almost 18yr old their freshman year.

Don't need to collect anything. We have plenty. Who's the one medal hunting? Not us. 14 means 14. Most welcome the opportunity to test their skills. HS placer/qualifier really have nothing to loose, the underclass men have everything to gain. Unless you're not gonna wrestle in high school. We were 14 all year and wrestled soph, jr, and seniors and didn't run or whine about it, took our losses, along with our wins. It's called a sport.

I agree completely and similar instances happen all the time with wrestlers or coaches taking the easy way out. My son will see kids at districts that are usually two weight classes above him that have dropped down to have a better shot. Personally I love it that he will have the oppertunity to face someone so much bigger. Bottom line people use the loop holes presented but I feel the truly succesful ones are those that push for the challenge and persevere anyways.

BLUF - Bottom Line Up Front, wrestling 14U or wrestling the high school division may not really matter in some weight classes. My son was not a State Placer his first year in high school going 2-2. He didn't have the option to wrestle 14U and wrestled the high school division at Kids' State that year placing 5th. His Sophomore year he placed 6th in State and went on a band trip to Florida so he couldn't wrestle the Kids' post season. His Junior year at State the top four places went to Freshman in the 6A 126 pound weight class. He ended his high school career going 2-2 with his two losses to State Placers (Sophomore and Junior). These younger wrestlers just keep getting better and better.

I agree! My son wrestled all ages as a Freshman. It never bothered him a bit. To him, that kid on the mat was just another opponent. Age is just a number.

It may be the only time that they have a shot at a kids state title for some.

They aren't dropping to 10U to wrestle it is kids their own age.

Toughen up or only breed for a good wrestling birthday.

j

Yep you got it, not going to pull weight for Kids State and gonna wrestle for fun and the love of the sport. Judge! And not sure what your "give us someone to beat" meant.

You really need to sit down if you think the pressure is the same or comparable to high school state. Kids Club prepares our kids for high school.

If you placed at HS State and choose to wrestle 14U in the kids state series my personal opinion is that you don't want to get any better. I have waged this battle and lost but my opinion will never change. You will not find anyone I am associated with doing such. We are the ONLY state that allows HS wrestlers to compete with 7th and 8th graders in the Kids series. Just stating the facts.

All I am saying is...go for it! Wrestle your age even if you're in HS - that's your choice, I'm glad we have them. My son wrestled this past weekend and had a HS State Qualifier in the finals and went into OT with him.
We don't pull weight for kids club, never have - let kids grow!! Kids Club is just that.....a stepping stone for HS. On an average weekend he gives up 3 or 4 pounds (at weigh in time, probably more once they step on the mat) and still stays competitive. He is an average wrestler and was proud of himself for hanging with a HS kid who has been in a room where the coaches and other kids are very serious about the sport. To him the State series is the most pressure he feels all year.
The 'give us someone to beat' was just that. Give the boys that are ready to step up their game some tough competition - bring in the freshman kids that have been wrestling 16 and 17 year olds all season. We are in a District that doesn't have middle school and we have had to chase competition all year. He is excited to see at State this year he will more than likely have 50% or more of his bracket HS kids.
When he starts HS next year and comes back to Kids Club, after the season is over, he may feel the same way your son does.......just to have fun and no pressure feeling. Don't read into my post more than what it is.

What about the 15 year old 8th grader competing at 14U? No different than the 14 year old freshman yet nothing is said. Judge all you want Cokely. You don't know my kid or his work ethic or his ambitions. So your opinion doesn't hold any weight with me nor does your arrogance.