So just because there is one kid in the state of Kansas who is a Sophmore and could wrestle a 7th grader, that means we need to change the whole system. We had a kid in 7th grade who had to compete against freshman. He did very well and qualified to state. As an 8th grader, he was facing a whole bracket full of freshman (and some of the top ones at that). He did very well and placed 4th. As a freshman himself, he faced Seniors on a regular basis (varsity 160lbs). Having to wrestle tough competition from 7th grade on in kids fed just made him more ready for high school. Take it away and I don't know if he would have had the success he did this year (over 20 wins). Also, my son was a very young 8th grader and was able to make it to state beating 2 varsity freshman wrestlers along the way. One of them was from Clay Center and we all know they don't know how to wrestle. Again, this gave him so much confidence before his high school season began. It also built him up to face the Juniors and Seniors. I would rather see our 8th graders compete against the freshman now in kids state than to be suddenly with the big dogs once they are in high school. Think of 8th grade kids state as a step towards wrestling high school. It gives them a little bit of a feel (and in some cases reality check) of what it may be like next year.
