Two athletes with one goal, win at any cost. The real question is what will they do to win?
Many wrestlers spend their time in the weight room bulking up to get the strength they need to wrestle the tougher weight classes. Others, however, spend their time cutting weight to wrestle a lower weight class in hopes of achieving that win they so desperately want. "I cut weight because it gives me a chance for a varsity spot on the team and a chance to perform as best as possible in a lower weight class," says sophomore Carl Wiencek.
While junior Teddy Davis, a current student of JGHS attending Mid-East Career Center says, "I cut weight to improve my chances of winning in the lower weight class and to get in better shape."
Unfortunately, while cutting weight is effective for some it affects others with numerous negatives. "While cutting weight I do get in better shape, but when cutting too much weight I often become fatigued easier and I know that is the point where I stop," says Davis.
Some wrestlers try to select the "right" foods to assist in proper weight loss too. "Small amounts of filling foods followed by something nutritious is the way to go," says Wiencek.
Coach Paul Frick also tries to help his team lose weight properly by prolonging practice and encouraging a healthy lifestyle and eating habits. He discourages things that could injure his athletes like too much weight loss.
Staying healthy is important this year since there are numerous open weight classes, meaning forfeits in the classes of 103, 125, 130 and 285.
With that many open slots, Frick knows some problems will arise. He admits, "If an injury or something like that occurs, we work around it. No wrestler is never unhurt. If you only wrestled when you were 100 percent, then you would never wrestle."
Only a few home matches
Each year the team works hard to show their skill to those spectators including friends and family, but only occasionally to a home crowd. This year, just as last, there are only two home meets.
The wrestlers would like to have more matches at home. "It kinda upsets me because I spend a lot of time to better my skill with no real way to show my friends and family unless they drive 45 minutes to watch me," said Davis.
Athletic director Dan Adams explains, "It is the way the league is set up; it isn't the school. Every year we wrestle the Southern teams in the early season duals, and then we only have two home matches to work with after that.
Adams goes on to say, "We will have a chance to possibly host a tournament in years to come. There is plenty of talk about it, but it's going to require the support of many of the parents and community for it to happen."
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