I agree on the hardship for sure- and personally I could go either way on the 16 and under at state. I think it is fun for them and a time to get together with old friends and wrestle a bit. As a youngin I would go to the high school state tournament and watch because those guys were my heros. When they added the 16 and under- I noticed most of the kids didn't find the need to go to High School State because they got to watch them wrestle right there in kids. Back in the day- the high School kids would work with littler kids at kids practice and go on saturdays to coach and that was great and I thought it gave the younger kids a chance to see them wrestler so that was great to. The best feeling in the world for a wrestler is having someone look up to you and seeing the younger kids high five the 16 and unders walking off the mat after a match is very cool. You can see the smile on the older kids face- even after a lose. So I have mixed feelings about 16 and under at state.

Sports these days are so expensive- I would how parents do it- I support any parent that gives to their children- I know it is tough