For me, it always depends on the wrestler and the situation. If I have a first year guy who has been on the fence about sticking with sport, I probably wont put him out there against a former state champ or top 3 wrestler. Yet, if we are close to winning the duel meet I will tell the wrestler what is expected of him which would be to wrestle hard and not get pinned. A lot of it is situational.
I actually had a wrestler this year who only wrestled for 4 weeks (and was on the fence) and had a situation where we could get the win if he were not to get pinned. Long story short, I sent him out there against a wrestler who is currently ranked 4th in the state and he got pinned in the 2nd period. This wrestler quit wrestling after this match.
You really just have to know your wrestlers and their tenacity and whether or not #1 if this will help the team #2 will it give my wrestler experience and drive to see how much work needs to be put in to reach the next level and # 3 does this wrestler have the grit to take a dominated tough loss and stick with sport and put more work in.
Unfortunately Nick those kids who are on the fence are just looking for a reason. I tried for years to keep kids like that, but even if they stay the season I never saw them the next year. I think you did the right thing letting him wrestle the match. The upside actually may have swayed him to enjoy the sport had he not gotten pinned and felt that feeling of pride! We all have our ways of doing it, but I just think the kids are here to wrestle so let them wrestle. There is of course the argument for the other option as well. Good luck the rest of the year and see at conference seeding meeting! Oh the fun we will have! Haha