Even before the winter sport season begins, athletes planning to try out for the wrestling team start preparing weeks or sometimes even months in advanced. Every member of the team must make sure they meet the requirements of their weight class. Some athletes may need to gain a few pounds while others must go through a difficult process of loosing some weight.

There are 14 weight classes in the high school level ranging from 103 pounds to 285 pounds. It is vital for a wrestler to be exactly at the weight class’s mark. “The scale says points of pounds too. Let’s say you’re going for 140. If you’re 140.1, you can’t wrestle that match because you’re over,” said sophomore wrestler Matt House.

According to senior captain Gabe Cordeiro of the 140 pound weight class, the weight precision gives wrestlers a huge advantage during the contests. “A pound is a big difference in a match,” said Cordeiro. “If you are one of the smallest in the weight class, you will just be smashed and thrown around. However, if you are the heaviest in the weight class, you will have extra leverage which helps.”

“Most people go to the gym before the season starts to gain more muscle, then they lose weight during the season so you’re stronger, but no one really tries to gain weight. The lighter you are in your weight class the better chance you have of winning your matches,” said House.

Wrestlers have to watch all of the food that they consume. Foods, such as cakes, cookies, and fried products, must be removed from the competitor’s diet. When senior Adam Gray, 119 pound weight class, is maintaining weight, he basically only eats vegetables, fruits, and protein. “You can only eat foods in their natural form when controlling your weight,” said Gray. “You have to stay away from the processed foods. Organic foods are a must.”

Wrestlers also try to do certain activities or wear extra clothes when they workout in order to try to sweat more which allows them to lose more weight. “I also wear a sweatshirt and sometimes sweatpants to practice, so I sweat more and I lose more water weight,” said House.

According to Gray, if wrestlers cut their weight very quickly and moments before a match, their bodies will feel awfully depleted. “The key with losing weight is to start early,” said Gray. “A month or two before the season is a good starting period. At that point of the training, you want to lose fat while keeping muscle.”

Cordeiro has seen several wrestlers not leave enough time to cut down their weight. “Many wrestlers make the mistake of fasting before matches [to cut weight],” said Cordeiro. “This will deplete your muscle mass which is very costly. Malnourishment occurs and broken bones will be caused by the lack of nutrients.”

House tries to stay as healthy as he can while losing the necessary weight in order to stay in his weight class. “Sometimes I feel really weak and tired during the day, but I try to take vitamins to stay healthy.”

Last year, Gray had an unfortunate personal experience with reducing his weight at a fast pace. “I broke my collar bone because I cut my weight way too quickly,” said Gray. “Now I know to start much sooner so that doesn’t happen again.”

Sometimes wrestlers must cut a lot of weight in a short period of time. “I had to cut six pounds before a match last year,” said Cordeiro. “To do this, I jump roped in a sauna with full sweats on, and it worked.”

Cutting weight is one of the most vital aspects of wrestling although it isn’t the most enjoyable. “Hopefully, I don’t have to do that [cut weight] this upcoming season,” said Cordeiro.