The great weight debate

by Eric Pfahler and Ben Wickert
Staff Writers

Before a basketball game, Ohio forward Brandon Hunter stretches and shoots around to warm up. Ohio wrestler Anthony Carrizales, meanwhile, must constantly work to reach a target weight of 133 lbs. before a match.

In order to maintain optimum weight, Carrizales, like many other wrestlers across the nation, must diet and exercise in a process known as cutting weight.

A casual observer might wonder why wrestlers endure such a demanding regimen to make weight. Carrizales said the reasoning behind the practice is simple.

“In order to be competitive at this level, you almost need to cut weight,” Carrizales said. “People always say, ‘You’re already thin; there’s no way you can lose weight,’ but people can always trim down a little bit.”                                                                                                           

The deaths of a three college wrestlers have been attributed to cutting too much weight too quickly. Jeff Reese (Michigan), Joseph LaRossa (Wisconsin-Lacrosse) and Bill Jack Saylor (Campbell) all died of complications from weight loss in 1998.

In response to the rash of deaths, the NCAA issued a series of regulations on weight cutting methods used by wrestlers.

One rule requires wrestlers to weigh no more than one hour before the match begins. Under the previous rule, wrestlers could weigh in up to 24 hours before a meet. The new rule aims to reduce drastic water-weight loss right before the meet, and the food and liquid binges that are needed to replenish the body. Items such as rubber suits, saunas and diuretics, common water-loss devices used in the past, also were banned.

Ohio coach Joel Greenlee said the regulations have curbed weight cutting.

“I think (the new rules) have helped the sport by making wrestling fun again for a lot of guys,” Greenlee said. 

Char Kopchick, OU Director of Health Education and Wellness, said excessive weight loss for college athletes results from the pressure to produce wins.

“A lot of habits that people pick up, they pick up in junior high or high school,” Kopchick said.

Greenlee said coaches have an added responsibility to ensure wrestlers are not dropping too much weight.

“I think they should know (what their wrestlers weigh) and do a lot to help them out to get leaner, plus education on eating right,” Greenlee said. “I don’t even think they should lose weight in junior high.”

Adam Hickman, an OU junior and former high school wrestler at Archbishop Alter H.S., said making weight was not always easy.  He said he used an exercise bike more often after practice and followed a stricter diet to shed pounds before the state tournament.

 “I had a lot of trouble making weight (my sophomore year) because I cut 12 lbs.,” Hickman said.

Kopchick said healthy ways to drop weight exist, but it depends on the type of weight being dropped.

“I think it’s how it’s done,” Kopchick said. “If someone’s losing fat alright, but if someone is forcing someone to lose muscle weight, that’s different. What you want to do is make sure you are eating a well-balanced intake of food.”

 The presence of cutting weight in wrestling remains nearly as vital to wrestling as the mats on which competition takes place. Although the risks can be fatal, Hickman said weight cutting should continue to occur.

“Every competitive wrestler is out there cutting weight,” Hickman said. “If everyone’s doing it, you kind of have to.”