at 6u it is tough, even 6 months make alot of difference. going into 8u or 10u, it's time to quit counting months. it just gives the kid an excuse, and it can be a build a mental block. your kid did great this year. looks like he hung with rodriquez better than the rest. congrats.

I don't allow my son to think in top and bottom years. He is at the top of 6u this year and placed at 8u state. If you are in the same bracket and step on the red or green line age doesn't matter. Technique is king!

My son doesn't get the whole bottom side/top side of age group disadvantage/advantage. Qualified for State at 11 (U12), 13 (U14), and 15 (HS Division or U18). At 12 he didn't qualify for Districts and at 14 he qualified for Districts only. The problem is, the age group a year behind him has had a lot of exceptional wrestlers who didn't seem to know they were supposed to be disadvantaged by being on the bottom side of the age group.

IDK that age jump from 12 and 14 is tough. True technique is KING but raging hormones and puberty can kick techniques butt. Some of those late bloomers can attest to that.

But I am curious if threes a way to crunch the numbers on if we lost any younger 14's with these changes. But I think we might have to let it ride another year to get a accurate view.

As far as the jump in groups, I think during my boy's path, 10 to 12u was the toughest. That when you start seeing kids with real meat on their bones. 12u to 14u is tough to because you start to see lots of weight cutting, and freshman with a year of solid technique. What I preach, "Keep working at your technique, you'll lose some to strength, as you will in life, but when your time comes your constant hard work at your technique will pay off."

I guess I don't know if it's paid off yet because the boy still wishes for arm pit hair, but I feel like his technique has brought him this far. I guess time will only tell, but I can say it's helped his attitude tremendously. Keep driving on, and don't worry what's in front of you, we'll deal with it if it comes. Tonight we went through his old brackets from when he was 7, and saw lots of wrestlers who were going 0-2, now placing in HS or winning kids state championships. Some not even around.

As far as HS state, I like it. Some of those kids that went 0-2 in the 2006 brackets, kept at it and are successful wrestlers battling through their bracket and placing or winning kids state. Good for them, and good for our state body giving them that opportunity.

As far as 14 year old eligible wrestlers wrestling 14u, why not. They are eligible as per decided by our state body. Don't get mad at a 14-15 year old kid for doing something that he's allowed to do. Not all were state champions, and some just want some redemption. Can't hate that. Most coaches have a similar slogan on the back of their shirts.

And some 14u 8th graders, want to wrestle them to see what is in store for them. I'd say those type of kids have a positive attitude that will carry them far!

Bronson,

Just tell Tristan that deodorant is $50 a stick. Tell him that even women in Europe shave their arm pits now. It's disgusting!

On second thought, I am looking forward to the 'ole pit hair coming in for Tristan. With his exceptional wrestling skills, he will be a beast when he has pit hair. I am really looking forward to having him on the major league roster next year.

My child is not that intellingent to be 14u as a senior. If your child is 8 yrs. old are you going to put him in as 12u.

The real debate here appears to be should HS kids be allowed in 14U. Well that is the rule. But, I think it is a mistake for the HS kids that went to state to do 14U. We did last year, its not the same. To correct this, I think we need to do USA weights. Fixes the issues. I know it will never happen. People who's kids are at the right place in the age group would fight like crazy to stop it. And, whoever said top side of the age group doesn't count - just wait, you will figure it out unless you have a complete stud. That move from 8 to 10 is not easy and the move from 10 to 12 is very tough. This is especially true with our age groups, where you have 11 year olds with 13 year olds, huge difference in maturity.

Whole different story. Freshmen that have proven thru the HS season, by qualifying, or placing, at HS state, have already shown that they are mature enough to handle the age difference. Never did I say that I wanted a freshman 14u kid that got his tail whipped all year in HS, to wrestle HS division. EVERYONE knows the spirit of the "rule" that allowed freshman to wrestle either 14u or HS. It is "expected" that the ones that were state qualifiers or for darn sure placers ought to wrestle the HS division.

And there are NO 8u kids that could wrestle with 12u kids, so that is not even close to being an intelligent question, though I know you weren't serious. But I don't want you comparing apples to watermelons.........

I agree with both of these statements. Kids that are quality high school wrestlers as freshman should wrestle the high school division.

I understand your view and respect it. I just don't remember at the state meeting anyone talking about what the "spirit of the rule" was or what 14 year olds were "expected" they should do when it was voted on. If I remember right the HS was voted in not so that we could have a "grand state" but so that we give more opportunities for more wrestlers. Argument about 14u was initially making all HS wrestlers wrestle HS division, but the argument was made that you'd water down the 14u.

I guess I just feel we have to becareful not to put our own "expectations" on 14 year olds. I put enough on my own boy and hope he makes the right decision when it's his to make.

Thanks Lee! He can't wait to be in the room with Garrett again. It killed him this year that he couldn't be there. And for me, I am excited to be back with the crew again! Missed u guys and was good to be together at kids state.