I don't know exactly what is happening, but there might be one situation where it might make sense. If the middle school wrestlers are "novice" wrestlers for the most part and the club kids are the better wrestlers, the club wrestlers would not gain anything by participating in the middle school program and it would free up the space for new wrestlers. But when it comes time for league, or whatever you call it, the best wrestlers all wrestle, middle school or club...
I know this statement will rub some wrong, but wrestling really isn't a team sport. It is an individual competition and and the focus is on individuals, not teams. So trying to get the club kids "on the team" isn't going to work because those club wrestlers already know what's going on and they know they aren't in a team sport. If they want to improve, they need a good coach, a good partner, and good competition.
Rford - Agree and Disagree.
Agree. You are definitely correct that when you dig way down into the weeds wrestling is an individual sport. No one will be there to bail you out when you are having a bad day or are just outmatched. You need a good coach, a good partner and need to wrestle good competition (good coach and good partner will help you take care of good competition).
Disagree. Wrestling is also a team sport. These wrestlers workout together every day in practice, they root for each other and they want their teams to be the best that they can be. My son really bought into the team concept in Junior High and even more so in High School. In four years of wrestling State in High School, his greatest disappointment was not making it through to Saturday's competition in his Junior year (he felt that he had let his team down).
