There’s too much to unpack here. I would not discourage or recommend a division for any kid. Dream big, relentlessly chase your dreams, and you will grow and learn life along the way. If your dream is to wrestle D1, don’t settle for something different. If your goal is to start your freshman year, find a way to make it happen at whatever division. One thing I know about the best wrestlers in this state past, present, and future is that they aren’t quitters and they don’t settle. They never stop working.
Also, Rob Atwood has spent several years wrestling all over the country and I believe has AA at Virginia Beach Nationals.
Lastly, my son is wrestling against Duke tomorrow, first dual start as a true freshman, bumping up a weight class to fill in at heavyweight. For a small school kid who lost almost every match when he started in this sport from a traditional non-powerhouse wrestling state to have an opportunity to wrestle at the highest level of competition in folkstyle wrestling, I would call that success already. But I will tell you, for my son, he wasn’t recruited for being a top 20 nationally ranked kid, he was recruited for his work ethic, discipline, and passion to improve - which translates into what he can be when he is surrounded with with top notch talent and coaching. #moreworktodo