For the most part it is not harder to place at kids state than it is at high school state because of closer age divisions and more weights. For instance, you don't have to worry about 15 and 16 year old sophomores and juniors if you are a 14 year old freshman at kids state. Believe me placing at kids state is usually not as hard as placing at high school state and tons of wrestlers place at kids state and never place at high school state.