When my son started wrestling he was 7. I preached on Sundays. Being together at church was important. So his first tournament ever was at Emporia Tournament of Champions. Wow! He got clobbered hard. We went three weeks later to a smaller tournament near Lansing. He won a match! But he also go beat by a girl. He came off the mat and shook his head and said, "She was a lot tougher than my sisters!"

He practiced at Olathe South Kids Club and went to one more open in Ottawa. He won a match and went 1-2.



Here is the kicker: He didn't know anything about Novice Tournaments until several years later! He just liked wrestling.

He is a senior now, placed at state last year and making another run this year. He still likes wrestling.