TO: Wrestling Parents
Your student athlete has undergone weight certification for the upcoming wrestling season following the guidelines set forth by the Minnesota State High School League.
The topic of weight and weight loss in wrestling is often of concern to parents and has been the source of prior controversy. The current guidelines call for wrestlers to be prohibited from dropping below a weight of 7% total body fat. The athlete's body fat is calculated by a series of three measurements of skin fold thickness at specified body parts. The athletic training staff at Owatonna High School has been certified by the state high school league to perform these measurements. The current body fat, along with the student's current weight, is then plugged into a formula that calculates the weight at 7% body fat and a correction factor is then applied. The result is the lowest weight at which your son can be certified to wrestle. This should not be interpreted as being a recommendations for the weight at which he should wrestle, for other factors such as strength, endurance and stamina can be affected by trying to achieve a weight below which the athlete is used to being at.
In addition, I will be utilizing an age adjusted maximum weight loss calculation that limits the total amount of weight an athlete can lose. For seniors, this is 15% of total body weight; for juniors, 12%; and for sophomores and younger, 10%. I have found over the years, with the younger athletes who are still growing, that what they certify for in November may not still hold true for them in February.
Rapid loss of large amounts of weight is not recommended and the use of diuretics, laxatives or rubberized/plastic suits is prohibited and have lead to serious health consequences. A long term, strategic plan for weight management during the wrestling season is the recommended approach. The lower line on the certification form is for the parents to indicate the lowest weight at which their son can wrestle and supersedes the physician certified weight, so the final decision is yours.
I encourage you to consult with your family physician if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Brian E. Bunkers, M.D.