While it is hard to argue ... the debate (at least in my mind) ... I just lament ... I'm left to surmise ... I'm just not sure ... I'm just not sure ... Who knows...
In the sport of wrestling, I labor under no delusion that, in most instances (recognizing that there are always exceptions to every rule), allowing for dramatice improvement and/or becoming an "elite" wrestler, almost of necessity, requires considerably more devotion to the sport than otherwise permitted during the course of a regular high school season. ...
I guess that You just hope... will that athlete later be left to wonder ... I can't honestly say.
I have an answer for you: Focusing on wrestling will not leave athletes wishing they had played more sports and wrestled less. Of all the outstanding multisport athletes I know personally, the main theme is that they are disappointed they weren't better at the particular sport they played in college. They had a little fun at the other stuff, but they would have rather been D1 material in the particular sport they loved the most. Also, there is still plenty of time to prepare oneself to excell in at least 2 sports -- wrestling and football complement each other anyway. It may be more difficult to excell at 2 skill sports such as wrestling and baseball, which have different skill sets, but, hey, baseball isn't a sport anyway. I saw some kids playing a game of pickup basketball yesterday without adult supervision, and it ticked me off ... big time!
P.S. I'm from a small school that, in my last 2 years there, took home state medals in football, basketball, baseball, and golf. I have a first- and a second-place state medal from 2 of those plus my wrestling state medal. So, I know a lot of great multisport athletes. I would have gladly traded in that state medal in my 3rd-favorite sport for the chance to be great at my favorite -- wrestling.
