This will be my third year of wrestling, but my first year wrestling for the high school team. I'm really excited about it but I know that it will be harder, is there any advice on what I should do to make the transition easier. What are some of the major differences you guys have seen between junior high and high school practices and matches? I just want a heads up on what's to come.

It will definitely be harder, but don't get discouraged. I've coached all levels (Kids, Jr. High, & High School) and I've seen kids excel early that didn't necessarily excel at the high school level and I've seen kids start out just as you are and end up being state placers. Watch some of the kids in high school that have had success at that level and follow their lead. Good Luck.

Don't get discouraged like aforementioned in fact sometimes coming out there knowing nothing or very little is the best because you learn the basics and some people are so busy trying to learn other junk....Darryl Zimmerman of Concordia I believe didn't wrestle til his Senior year and won state.

I think you can have great success too, even though you are making the jump to high school with little experience. As a coach, I would advise you to find people in the practice room who work hard. If you truly want to be successful, stay away from the guys who only want to practice hard while the coach is watching. Don't be discouraged if someone gives you a hard time for trying to be better than them. Good luck!

go to fall wrestling practices at a wrestling club. there will be plenty of high school wrestlers and u will get a feel of how good they r compared to u. do this and u wont be shocked in ur first match in high school

I was like 20-0 my 8th grade season, with like 18 falls or something like that. Then my freshman year I was like 13-14 on varsity, so it's definatly a big step up. Just work hard in practice, thats the only thing, looking back I wish that I had worked harder.

Listen to your coaches. Yeah, they may seem like major asses sometimes, but they have been through all the same things you have as a highschool wrestler. Also, chances are they were pretty successful, so they might just know a thing or two about wrestling. Anyway, they all know what kind of effort it takes to run a practice, and they can see through you lame excuses as to why you don't want to practice (yeah, we've all tried it).

What about the conditioning part? We condition a lot in Junior high, but I've heard of our best wrestlers going to the highschool and end up passing out or crying by the end the practice. Any advice on that? I started conditioning a little over a month ago, but I'm still not sure that's enough. Is there like a mind set I need or I should do extra stuff asside from running every day?

wrestlerkid:

I understand your nervousness and yes, the difference between middle school and high school is like night and day. But you're thinking WAY too much.

Do your conditioning and take it to the point of asking your coaches exactly what you should be doing — if you already haven't. But just relax; you sound like you are truly interested in a high school career. Within the first week or so of practice the nerves will be gone and you'll be ready to go.

Have fun and have a great year.