If you have never been around a wrestler actively trying to make their weight, then you might not be aware of the struggles these athletes endure.
The athletes who start at a young age have been dealing with the consequences of their sport for many years once their college career has come to an end. Two Cortland wrestlers, Michael and Adam Barker, have both been wrestling since 7th grade.
These wrestlers must deal with the physical and mental tolls that cutting weight has on their bodies in both high school and college. To compete in their weight class, each individual wrestler must conform their bodies to reach their targeted weight.
The Process of preparing for a tournament or a match looks slightly different than that of an athlete of another sport. Wrestlers weigh themselves prior to the match to see how many pounds they need to either gain or lose before they can compete in their weight class. When determining which weight class they will be wrestling in, both the coach and the player normally have an input. At a school such as Cortland, the athlete decides by competition factors and what is attainable for them. Most weight class changes are made during the off season which allows wrestlers an extended time to bulk for their upcoming season.
At a division 3 school such as Cortland there are no scholarships which allow wrestlers to have much more of a voice in their decision. At a division 1 school this might be different due to the amount of funds that go into their athletic program. Coaches have a greater say when much more is at stake, specifically when money is involved. At Cortland, Wrestlers spend time discussing with their coach which weight class is fitting for their bodies.
Cortland wrestler Adam Barker says “Of course coach wants us to meet a specific weight but if that is not something our bodies can handle or something we are not willing to do than the choice is ultimately up to us”.
At SUNY Cortland the weight classes are 125, 133, 141, 149, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197, and 285. There is only one starter per weight class which makes the competition for the weight class very competitive. Nobody wants to be in a backup position therefore wrestlers are willing to do a lot to gain that starting spot. For those who aren’t familiar with wrestling, these athletes often have a difficult decision to make when it comes to what weight class they will be wrestling in.
Adam Barker says, “At Cortland you have a choice in which weight class is most healthy for you to be in, but it may affect if you are able to be a starter”.
For example, if you weigh around 150 pounds and one of the top wrestlers in your program is wrestling in the 149-weight class but there isn’t a starter for the 141-weight class than you are more likely to try and cut weight to be able to start.
This is what creates a problem between being as healthy as possible or being able to compete.
Many wrestlers struggle more mentally rather than physically over this process. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning says, it is found that cutting weight for a match over the time span of a few days can affect psychological function. However, wrestlers are also physically affected, especially at a young age.
Another Cortland wrestler, Michael Barker, shares a story from one of his experiences cutting weight in high school. “I remember one time I had been cutting weight for a few days and my body was mentally exhausted. All I could think about was food and water, but I couldn’t have any until I weighed in. I drove to school one morning and as I pulled into the parking lot, I immediately fell asleep because my body was struggling from the lack of food”.
In high school, Wrestlers are at the age where they are still growing which makes cutting weight much more challenging. They often find themselves in weight classes that are no longer attainable for their growing bodies which forces them to lose weight at a more rapid pace before matches.
Wrestlers cut weight in multiple ways including more frequent exercise, cutting back caloric intake, and dehydration. All these methods can be very harmful to the body especially ones that are still growing at a rapid weight such as a highschooler. Most of the time two of these methods are performed at the same time which is a dangerous combination and can easily have a horrible outcome.
There are many more resources provided to college wrestlers compared to high schoolers when it comes to cutting weight healthily. There are ways to provide your body with what it needs and still be able to make your desired weight. This information is not as readily available to high school athletes as compared to college ones.
Adam Barker says, “If you cut weight unhealthily in high school you are still able to win but it is very difficult to win at a college level when your body is weak”.
High school wrestlers would certainly benefit from having more guidance on how to take care of their bodies when partaking in such a demanding sport.
Why would coaches and schools wait until college level to give wrestlers ways to cut weight in a healthier manner?
The most relevant reason is that high school athletic departments do not have the funds to provide health trainers or other resources that can provide for each athlete. Colleges, even those at the division 3 level, have the resources to provide wrestlers and other athletes with everything they need to remain healthy and in competition.
The National Federation of State High School Associations has put in place many rules to keep athletes as safe as possible. These rules force coaches and administration to be educated on the dangers of cutting weight along with hydration testing.
You may wonder why wrestlers would continue a sport that both physically and mentally drains them from childhood to early adulthood. But like most other athletes, they have grown a strong love and bond to their sport.
You wouldn’t expect a soccer player to quit due to the immense amount of running or for a Baseball player to quit after getting hit by a 60mph ball. So why would you expect that from a wrestler?
Adam Barker says that “Sometimes it affects my mental health and I think of how brutal the sport is, but I have never questioned wanting to not wrestle because of it”.