Mark,

From a parent/coach/wrestler that has been involved in this sport since the age of eight, I tend to try to make light of things when I can. There are times that I am dead serious, but most of the time I realize how hard it is for kids to compete in a sport this tough. I am sure that you and your son are extremely happy to be going to the State Championship tournament next weekend. If he finishes 2nd, he has earned 2nd. He shouldn't have to prove to anyone that he is better than 3rd (unless he threw a match at Districts to get on the opposite side of the bracket from the best wrestler in the State like I have come to understand happens).

My son just finished up his ninth year of wrestling. Before this year, he had made it to State two out of the last three years winning three matches at those two State tournaments. He physically and mentally developed well beyond where he was last year, and became a better technical wrestler as well. It showed as he went 53-17 this year including his Jr High record. He graciously bowed out going 0-2 at Districts in one of the toughest District brackets in the State, competing to the best of his ability all the way through. He would have been more than thrilled to place 6th at State this year, let alone 2nd.