Phoenix,

Listen to your body. You are young and have a whole bunch of life ahead for which you will want to be healthy. Missing a year of competition or being satisfied with competing at a lower level is a small price for a lifetime of activity.

Don't listen to the naysayers, life is full of commentators and you are being given a chance to learn a valuable lesson. Ignore the negative that comes from people who are not living inside your skin. There is a vast difference between rumor and advice, learning the difference while young is invaluable.

Bud