We moved from Texas to Missouri around 4 years ago. I grew up in Missouri, so it wasn't a culture shock at all for me. My boys, on the other hand, were a bit stunned. Kids participating in multiple sports throughout the year was a bit foreign to them. I wrestled in high school and really wanted my boys to give it a try. The first wrestling season comes around and I talk my oldest, who was in 8th grade, into giving it a go. I sold him on it because he's a big boy (6'4", 275 or so now in his junior year) and plays OT in football. Told him that wrestling will help him immensely as an offensive lineman. He's been hooked since. He is now a junior and just wrapped up his wrestling season. He qualified for state at 285, but didn't place. Looking at the returning heavies throughout the state, he should be ranked in the state to start next season. I also have a freshman that started in 7th grade. He had a very good first season in high school. Took one for the team and wrestled up 2 weight classes for varsity while a kid was losing weight. After the first half of the season, he finally was able to head back down to JV and wrestle in his own weight class. Ended up at 19-3 in his own weight class, 21-14 overall (yeah, he got his butt kicked wrestling up and on varsity). When wrestling was over, I asked the freshman if he was excited about football next year and he said "I'm more excited about wrestling". He even texted me a little while ago telling me that the wrestling coach was going to have open mats this Thursday after school. I think he is also hooked. Kid is harder than woodpecker lips and has a natural ability that has had him surpassing more experienced wrestlers on his team. Kid is in the gym every morning lifting and wants to attend all the wrestling camps and open mats that he can. Yeah, I'm kind of proud of those boys.
So, onto the NCAA championships. I'm looking forward to a rematch of the Big Ten 285 championship bout. Steveson and Cassar should match back up in the semis in the lower bracket. I think that Steveson takes him the second time around.