How good are high school kids now?

[Truzzcat]

Marcus Blaze tech pinned his way through the findlay open (almost entirely a d2 and d3 event). The reason I made this thread is because 1,2,3 at 133 were high schoolers the weight had the 3,5 ranked guys for d1 and the 1 guy for d3 returning national finalist. The runner up Ryan Kennedy and the third place guy Jace Morgan both took 7th at the grappler fall classic about a month ago which is a very tough high school tournament but probably not a top 5 one. Grey Burnett also majored 2x division 2 AA Shane corrigan in the finals, Burnett took 7th at 120 at super 32. This is a long winded way of saying it seems like even the less credentialed high school kids could go out and compete with the best at least at the d2 level which is why I think we are seeing true freshman have such success early on.

Tyler dekrakker also won the millersville open over max leete in the finals 

Jaydin o Farrill of Mccort took 2nd (I don't think he makes the Mccort lineup this year)

[Hammerlock3]

I think other variables like partners, technique, travel, and even strength have equalized to such an extent that the value of the youth variable has risen and seems to be continuing to. 

[stealyphil223]

You say things like Burnett just took 7th at super 32, the guys he is beating may be D2 and D3 All Americans, but go back and look at their high school results,  they were not super 32 placers.  So it is not that shocking that a high school super 32 placer can beat college guys that were not super 32 placers a couple years ago.  

[CHROMEBIRD]

Does it feel to you all like the overall skill level of high schoolers have improved, or that there's just a much much sharper and wider gap between the best of the best and your average wrestler these days? Average as in, a kid who is serious enough about the sport but doesn't have the ability or resources to travel across the country to tournaments all the time, or attend world-class camps, or is destined to start at the top D1 programs, etc. 

[MPhillips]

3 hours ago, stealyphil223 said:

So it is not that shocking that a high school super 32 placer can beat college guys that were not super 32 placers a couple years ago.  

BINGO...

[silver-medal]

2 hours ago, CHROMEBIRD said:

Does it feel to you all like the overall skill level of high schoolers have improved, or that there's just a much much sharper and wider gap between the best of the best and your average wrestler these days? Average as in, a kid who is serious enough about the sport but doesn't have the ability or resources to travel across the country to tournaments all the time, or attend world-class camps, or is destined to start at the top D1 programs, etc. 

the latter.  Most high school wrestlers are same as ever.  But the studs are extraordinary.

[Greenwave]

HS or true age.   That is a big difference when some of them should be goin into  sophomore year of college at end of this year in HS