On the subject of wrestling schools, I am a big supporter of Jr college wrestling as a stepping stone to 4 year college....both in getting an education and athletics...the jr colleges in washington need the support to keep alive, and you also have some good ones in Oregon in CLackamas and the one in southern Oregon and you also have N.Idaho.

For less than d-1 you have Montana State Northern...it is in the middle of no where in Montana but it has an excellent NAIA Progrm.

If you are looking at D-1 in NW.....Boise State, Oregon State and Portland State....outside of the area....a new conferance is being developed from division 2 schools going division one.

The new conferance will have South Dakota state, North Dakota state, University of Wyoming, Airforce, Fresno State, Northern Colorado, Utah Valley State coming off probation and I think a couple more including Norhern Iowa.

Oregon State is in a bit of a slump, but I think they will regain what they once had....Portland State because it will only get better with support from Washington wrestlers. You can reduce the out of state tuition not covered by wrestling scholorship with a program called WUE...Western Undergraduate Exchange Schlorship.

I really am reluctant to give my opinion on University Of Oregon, but you asked. Although there program has really fallen on hard times, and many of the top athletes from the nw over a number of years have had a hard time there....that is not the reason I would avoid, it is more a personal. Ben had a chance to go to University of Oregon out of Jr college. The coaching staff approached us to not sign with Boise State while they worked some things out on there end....I wont go into specifics but the way they conducted business with our family raised some serious ethics issues involving there program.

When dealing with schools it is very important to listen closely to what they say and how they say it...approach the conversation like you would approach a business contract discussion and your decision gets easier to make....promises without contracts is just conversation.....remember these recuiters tell the kids what they want to here with the intent that the kids will work the parents. It also very important to look at how wrestlers that have gone there developed, both on the wrestling and school angle.

Boise State is just a solid program all around, both on school and wrestling. The coaching is some of the best in the country. Randal brings an intensity to the room like you see in the mid west, and Owens is a very good teacher of the sport.

Also, if you are going to a d-1 or d-2 school make sure ou do not rely on the high school to have it togather on d-1 qualifications.

Make sure early on you find out what is approved on there form 48h for ncaa courses, when planning your classes in high school.