This is a very interesting topic. My son was fortunate to beat some quality kids last year and place 2nd at Kid's State as an 8th grader. At the time we looked forward to matching up with some of the high school kids. He is now a now a freshman and still wrestling 14u. I noticed several 8th graders in his bracket this year that are capable of placing and winning the whole thing.

Joey would fall into the category of having a tough high school wrestling room and splitting time with a senior who took 3rd at high school state. Joey and the senior battled all season long and he split time with him. During the Regional wrestle-off he beat the senior once (he had to do it twice and did not). Joey was extremely disappointed, but he quickly refocused his attention on the Kid's State series. We have talked a little about this subject and he says he just wants to compete. I like the idea of breaking the Kids series off at 14u (up to 8th grade) , then dividing the high school divisions into freshman & sophomores/ and juniors & seniors. This way seniors could wrestle if they choose to (maybe we would have some grand state matchups). Having said all this I am not trying to take anything away from the 8th graders. Some of these guys will hold there own just fine.