In the competitive world of wrestling, athletes push their bodies to the breaking point just to compete in the sport they love. Wrestlers have to weigh in at the beginning of every day they compete to be eligible to participate in the event.

This can leave individuals severely hungry and tired leading up to their match. Senior Trevor Beyer said there are several different tactics for losing weight on time.

“Don’t eat a bunch of sodium so your body doesn’t hold onto water weight,” Beyer said. “Make sure you’re eating everything in certain amounts.”

Beyond physical effects, cutting a bunch of weight can take a significant toll on the mental game. This makes it difficult for student-athletes to focus during the school day and perform to the best of their ability at practice.

“The hardest part is my mindset because I get really down during the week whenever I’m cutting weight, because you need food,” senior Avery Gomez-Hinojos said. “Without food, you’re just not very happy, and it’s hard to want to go to practice and be motivated to do what you love.”

Although on the positive side, wrestlers are allowed time to eat and prepare for their match after weigh-ins. This can be nice considering the intensity of the sport.

“No, [I don’t think cutting weight affects my wrestling performance], because you have time after weigh-ins to eat and relax, so you feel fine by the time it’s time to wrestle,” junior Brooklyn Treaster said.

Only select individuals will find success in wrestling due to its demanding combination of physical strength, mental toughness, and tremendous dedication. The mental side is crucial, as wrestling is an individual sport that requires exceptional resilience.

“It’s mostly just mental instead of physical,” Gomez-Hinojos said. “Your body starts hurting, but you have to keep your mind in the right space, or you won’t be able to do it.”