A few years ago my son had a great run at state. His club (the Slammers) get a lot of credit for it. Great coaching and great practice partners. The next year a new club started in town and most of the kids my son's size left the club. Out of loyalty we stayed, even though it was not in my son's best interest. He practiced with a novice when she wasn't playing volleyball and spent a lot of time coaching the little kids when she was. My mistake. One of the special things about wrestling is you are on the mat ALONE. My son lost alone. His team did not lose with him. From then on I learned, do as someone else on this thread said, go where the partners are. My son is perfectly happy with the club he is in now, a good fit on coaching and practice partners. And, we do not miss practices. But, we found that club because our last club (the Spartans) gave us the freedom to find a place with partners my son's age, size and ability level and the new club allowed outsiders to attend on a part time basis. And, I thank both of them.
And, on sitting together, just one question, how do you pick which mat. We have always sat in the bleacher above our kids mat number. And, over the years my family and I have met a number of great people from outside of our club - part of the greater wrestling family - by doing this. I would not change a thing.
