I have always been a big fan of wrestling, but i never pushed my son towards it. It took his 7th grade football coach ( who was also the jr high wrestling coach) to suggest he go out for wrestling as it would help him in football. Needless to say he fell in love with the sport. He has taken his lumps over the past 5 years, but keeps at it because he enjoys the sport. Sometimes i wander back thinking what if he had started earlier, but then i realize that that is a waste of time. I am just so glad he enjoys it so, successful or not. I think it has really made him a better person, and he has made countless friends through the sport. By the way, he gave up football because of his size. Options for smaller weights need to be kept.