If your son has a chance to do the middle school tournament, YOU MUST DO IT. Its worth the time. From the Lindsborg tournament (other than bad weather driving home) to the final match at Iowa, it was a great experience.

If your son can go as an alternate, do it. Ours was not, but a kid from Hays was, and he ended up getting 8 matches in Iowa. I don't know how the alternate situation works, but my guess is if the kid wants to wrestle, he'll get plenty of opportunities.