I am not educated enough to know the statistics that can help answer this question. My gut (which personal history has shown is not that reliable!) tells me to grow the sport, not condense it. My gut says that there are kids walking the halls that are 103 and lighter. How many freshman are 103 and less? What kind of sports opportunites do they have? There are high school kids who weigh 112 who currently don't wrestle. If we combine classes to create more eight man brackets, do we run the risk that we are just accepting we can't or won't beat feet to grow interest in the sport?

Is it better to produce fewer weight classes based upon current participant data, resulting perhaps in shorter duals when other threads are trying to promote duals to market the sport, or is it better to accept that the sport will live or die based upon its numbers of participants, number of fans? Shouldn't we design the weight class structure in a way that satisifies the question, "Will the new kid to the sport have a better chance at some success and therefore get enthusiatic enough to stick around?" And if he does, mom and dad, grandma and grandpa will be in the stands! And buy a hotdog!

Especially at the low and high ends of the weight classes, SIZE MATTERS. My gut says don't make that a show stopper for a kid who wants to win but is simply not big enough.

For what its worth!