I don't have a 16 and under, sometime I hope to. But, those 6 and under parents who want to eliminate 16's either don't understand (which is likely) or have a complete lack of respect for the people who have given them a wonderful opportunity (also likely).

The 6 and under number isn't 5 and 6 year olds, it's everyone under 7 who rolls around on the mat. We have had several 3 year olds in our practice room who have older brothers and they need the card to roll around with the bigger kids. Truth be told, a good number of the card carrying 6 year olds quit after a couple of weeks. Look at your own club and honestly count how many 6 year olds started the year that aren't there now. My point is that 1900 plus kids does not represent currently wrestling 5 and 6 year olds.

Comparing any 6 and under number to the February 16th 14 and 16 year olds number is irresponsible and shows a complete lack of knowledge about the organization. In the end, there will be around 1500 to 2000 of the most long term dedicated wrestlers and their families in these brackets.

The 16 year olds and their families and those before them have made this an organization that your 6 year old wants to be a part of. Recent 16 and under brackets have included some names like Juby, Grater, Deshazer, Furches, and Eck. This year will be Cokeley and others. Great wrestlers to be sure, but more importantly tireless supporters of our organization. They, and many others like them have made this a sport that you and your kid want to be a part of. It wasn't always so glorious. These kids and their families and those who they compete with and against represent what we should all strive for, and to suggest they are want to be wrestlers in need of a second chance is wrong on many levels.

Unfortunately for the sport, about half of these 6 and unders will retire from wrestling within 3 years. If you think it will just be the bad ones, you are wrong. I can personally name five 8 and under state champions who quit before age 12. If you think it will be just kids who don't come from wrestling families, you are wrong. All of their fathers wrestled and coached.

Pace yourself. Make it fun. Try to become one of the 16 and under wrestling families instead of trying to eliminate them.