Are we losing kids at a faster rate on the older end even though our numbers show we are gaining them on the younger end.

I did a quick look at the 2000 & 2009 District 1 State tournament series.

At the District 1 tournament in 2000 we had 164 participants
in that same series in 2009 we had 147 in the 14 and under division.

For the same time periods 2000 & 2009 at the District 1 tournament in the 16 & under division we had 145 participants in 2000 and we had 115 in 2009.

The number of brackets in 2000 14 & U had 23 and in 2009 14 & Under had 23 brackets

In 2000 16 & under had 20 brackets and in 2009 it had 18 brackets.

Note: In 2000 the 14 & U 70 pound bracket had no wrestlers and the 16 & U 95 pound bracket had no wrestlers.

I guess I just do not understand it if we are adding more kids at younger ages but our numbers are declining on the upper end.

Will and I both want the sport to grow - we just disagree on how to grow the sport.