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Just for arguments sake try to consider this scenario from an entire cross section of the situation. 1) most of the time arguments like this are based on the assumption of a kid being what you would consider to old for the grade. Not fact. 2) for every kid that is winning matches in this scenario, there is at least 1 that isn't winning many matches at all even against what you would consider younger competitors. 3) some kids are just more athletic, more dedicated, better at learning and applying, more coordinated, better coached...the list goes on. 4) age doesn't directly translate to winning. Just the same as cutting weight or being ranked higher. Something to keep in mind when arguing this is no arguments are going to change your team or individual success. When my oldest son was a freshman high school, we were considering wrestling at college open tournaments starting in his sophomore year. After his freshman year, the NCAA banned competitors that were enrolled in high school or younger from competing in these open events. The reason for this is because a kid that was enrolled in the 8th grade won one of these open tournaments. That is fact. The moral to this story is that all wrestlers are NOT created equal. Some are just better. And age has less to do with it than you are comfortable admitting. Be careful stabbing into the dark. You may not hit what you think you are stabbing at.

1) the Raney’s are an exception and comparing anyone in the state to what they’ve accomplished thus far is unintentionally downgrading the rest of the kids who aren’t national contenders. 2) The rules are the rules. If you have an issue with it, then present your case to policy makers. Some schools don’t care about academic eligibility (previous school I was associated with is a prime example). Then, there are others who have draconian policies in order for kids to just be able to practice. I know of a school who’s like that and people petitioned the SBDM council to change policy - which is the appropriate response, and it worked. 3) Calling someone’s team irrelevant may be intended to bash a coach, but I think it’s wise to at least be aware of the collateral damage done to those who are actually competing. This is an open forum, where kids can see what’s being said as well. 4) There are late bloomers in this state who, at the age of 16, are looking for their first pit hair under the best lighting they can find. Maturity/physique and age aren’t always the same. There are some 9 year olds who possess more muscle per body weight than some 8th graders. Most 8th graders (and even 7th graders) who are more mature are wrestling high school and not wasting time with a lack of competition in middle school (e.g. Matney from JC) 5) Wrestling is the only sport that goes based on age and weight. Whining about one kid being a year older than another doesn’t exactly help you arrive at the goal you’re trying to achieve. Then again, I’m probably just an ignorant fan. :-)

For middle school my kid wrestled up in weight. He walks around 115 to 116 an wrestle up to 130 the rank 3 kid for HS was a senior so he is 17 or 18 same as last season my son was 14 beat a senior at HS state he does not have a lot of years in this great sport as most do he started when he was 12 I’m proud of that sorry I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings or anyone else but I will tell you this after season is out I take him every where I can he always wrestled up in age an weight in off season I never cried they was older or bigger that makes them better to get beat by them they really see what’s out there an see how strong other kids are an they try harder

I agree 100% But at the same time these teams can do whatever they want. Within the rules. I want my kids wrestling the best competition. No matter the outcome. Iron sharpens iron

That younger kids can beat older ones. He literally said it In the sentence before

Good grief you’re probably for participation trophies also. You act as if all this is a result of some back room shenanigans but no matter how much you cry and whine about it, it’s all in the rules. Just going by the fact that “you’ve heard it from one of the kids coaches” just proves my point of where you’re from and what team you’re a part of. I guess if you can’t beat Johnson Central on the mat, it’s much easier to get on a message board to discredit them and act as if they’re doing someone illegal. I’ll give you a little heads up though, life is unfair and you get out of it what you put into it. Life will always be unfair to some because of instead of working their butts off to get better, it’s easier for them to whine and cry and make excuses as to why they’re not as successful as others. BeastMode has every right to be proud of his kid and shouldn’t have to put up with someone down playing his sons accomplishments just simply because they don’t like the team he competes for because of their success. Jealousy is a terrible thing.

I’ll agree with most of what you’re saying. However I will add that Matney is wrestling both high school and middle school. I heard it straight from one of his coaches that he’s trying to cut weight for both and just as recently as a few days ago competed in middle school duals. My entire point was that these kids that have been held back and are the age of high school gets, competing in high high school wrestling should leave the middle school tournaments to middle school age kids. I get that they are still technically in middle school but the dad was making a point that his kid in 8th grade was beating some ranked kid, when they kid is 15. It’s not like he’s this phenom that is 12 or 13 beating up on 18 year old kids. He’s actually competing with kids at his age and level. Same with Matney. He’s an excellent wrestler no doubt but he’s also 15 competing with younger kids. He should dominate them. I think it’s just unfair to these kids that are the correct age for their grade. Like I said, my kids are out of middle school but I see these other middle school kids crushed at tournaments and I feel for them.