I am no longer a big fan of youth sports. constant parents thinking their kid is the next Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady..... Cutthroat competition. Paying big money to join AAU or travel teams.. Not playing for this school, because the school across town is better.... the list goes on. I always thought wrestling was the worst. Every parent knows the rules of the mat, and in reality, didn't know anything... The fun of just playing is gone.

This^ So glad that my kids were done before the travel ball crap took over our area. Most of the kids playing travel ball all weekend all summer won't even play in high school, let alone be a star. Lots of people losing lots of quality family time worried about sports. Not that I against sports. I played, my wife played and my kids played. But it has gotten out of hand

The Boy is a year round wrestler. He loves folk style, likes free style, and isn't much into Greco-Roman but really enjoys the workouts for all of them. Some days after practice he can't hardly lift his arms but smiles the whole time. Not something I was ever into myself but his drive to succeed is fun to watch. He did the youth wrestling for a couple years and quit during the covid years and now wrestles for the school and practices with a private club. The school events are more fun for his mom and I because we can cheer for all the kids and not just him so, more action and less sitting around waiting on a match to watch. But the competition seems better at the invitationals so he likes them better, says he dosen't like getting a pin against an opponent who is just learning moves.

Good work Leftlane.