Goodness… I wish we could get so worked up and heated about something that really mattered like – the education of our children, safety of our children, or health of our children – but whining about no 6 and Under Division for Kids State Wrestling…wah..wah… wah! But, in all “fairness” this is a wrestling forum. But, really, what are we teaching our kids, by agreeing with them that it is “unfair” that they cannot wrestle at the BIG State with the big boys because there is no 6 and Under? Try using this as a teaching tool.. sometimes in life we have to go against the odds or choose another route. I told my 7-year-old that he can go to the 6 and Under Championships and if he wants to wrestle at subdistricts he can do that too but he will be wrestling older kids in the 8 and under group. He doesn’t care and wants to try. And in all honesty, he will most likely get beat out. That’s okay though because he will come back next year with hopefully more determination and might! I think it is all about how you present it to the kids.. we as parents have a huge role in how they choose to interpret things. Do the kids see it as “It’s not fair that I have to wrestle older kids to get to state while everyone else wrestles their own age level.” Or “The 6 and Unders are special in that they get their own STATE. AND bonus, if I want to compete against the 8 and unders, there is a chance I could do both! BUT.. another bonus, if I do not make it, I will cheer my big brother on and hope he makes it because it is a great experience for the whole family and something I can work to achieve too !”

Just my 2 cents… from a Mom with 2 very competitive boys: It does not hurt them one bit to be the one cheering on their sibling while they sit in the stands..and in fact it is moments like these I cherish.

I echo what someone may have already mentioned, is it the kids who really want the change or the parents?