I agree with the point that kids need to be challenged and need to get their butts kicked early and often to keep them challenged and advancing. Show me a kid who hasn't lost, and the first question I have is, "Who's he wrestling?" The dynamics can be variable, though. My kid has to get challenged in tournaments, because he doesn't have very good practice partners usually. If a wrestler has a great room, he could just wipe up the mats with everyone without suffering (because the kids in the room are wiping the mats with him).

I do NOT agree with the method of "proof" used above. In fact, when I saw the list, I actually thought the list demonstrated a high number of youth placers that become HS placers. Also, the list does not account for the many kids I'm sure who moved out of state, etc. To draw the conclusion that they quit wrestling is without basis. This isn't practical, but I'd like to see the other side--i.e., how many of the HS placers this year never placed as a youth? I'd bet that percentage is quite low.

And do kids quit? Of course, they quit every sport. Wrestling being as demanding as it is, particularly the higher you go, I wouldn't be surprised if wrestling has a higher than average drop rate.