I would have to agree 1 of my kids are 6 and under and we see pretty much the same kids at novice and open. Sometimes the competition at the novice level is tougher than that off the open tourneys. It doesn't matter to him if he wins or not he just likes to wrestle. My other child is 10 and under and this is her first year. She has also been wrestling open and novice. She hasn't won a match this year in either, but she is wrestling because she enjoys it. Are we making a mistake by letting them wrestle both open and novice tournaments? My 6 year old was not a state qualifer last year.