2.5. Weight Collection

Weekly weights were obtained from coaching staff from 3 September to 28 February. Wrestlers were weighed on the same scale, with minimal clothing, in their locker room prior to afternoon practice on each Monday by one of the wrestling coaches. In order to calculate the amount of weight lost each week to “make weight” for competition, each athlete’s weight class was subtracted from his recorded Monday weight with the assumption that he would have to lose that amount in order to compete at the end of the week (Friday/Saturday). Because heavyweights are less likely to partake in traditional weight cutting practices, heavyweights were omitted from statistical analyses addressing weekly and seasonal weight changes. These weights were also utilized to calculate average weekly weight changes (Monday to Monday).