Wrestlers undoubtedly enjoy their offseasons more than any other high school athlete does.
After three to four months of closely monitoring what they eat, they can finally spurge on food items they desire once wrestling season is completed. The Mat Classic took place more than a month ago and since that time wrestlers are already packing on the pounds according to local high school coaches.
Rogers Rams wrestling coach David Johnston always wishes his wrestlers would eat healthy meals during the season, but said that still isn’t always the case at times.
“During the season we want them to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and keep hydrated but they don’t always listen,” Johnston said with a laugh. “They like fast food as much as we do. Especially when they know they can still make weight.”
When the season comes to a close, Johnston said he sees an immediate change in the size of the majority of his wrestlers.
“I think naturally they go up a weight class or two once the season is over. They go from eating three meals a day to six meals a day,” Johnston said. “They tend to balloon up a little bit. But the reality is by the next year we want all of our wrestlers to grow into their natural weight class. We want all of our wrestlers to be bigger, stronger, faster the next season.”
Puyallup Vikings wrestling coach Bryan Bartelson agreed with Johnston’s statement that wrestlers move up a few weight classes each year.
“Most of our wrestlers go up one or two weight classes. They’re just growing,” Bartelson said. “This year our 103-pounder (Connor Goodlet) was 5’8” and wore size 10 shoes. He’s just going to get bigger naturally. Next year I wouldn’t be surprised if he was between 112 and 119.”
While the majority of wrestlers naturally grow into their natural weights each year, Bartelson said some wrestlers are still prone to eating hordes of junk food.
“We try to teach them a disciplined diet,” Bartelson said. “Some kids think they need to eat four Big Macs to get full when in reality they only need to eat half of one.”
Below is a look at a few of East Pierce’s grapplers eating habits during the season and after the season.
Allan Thompson - Rogers Rams
Rogers’ heavyweight Allan Thompson had the luxury of consuming pretty much anything he pleased during this past wrestling season. Thompson, who will be a senior next year, weighed in consistently at 260 pounds for his matches.
Since the Mat Classic on Feb. 16, Thompson has beefed up to 265—adding just five pounds to his frame. Even though Thompson could’ve filled his stomach with anything he wanted during the wrestling season, he chose to go the healthy route.
“During the season I was probably eating three meals a day. Mostly I just ate fruits and vegetables in those meals,” Thompson said. “Since the season ended I eat probably one more meal a day and have only gained five pounds.”
Thompson said he is sympathetic to the smaller wrestlers who have to count their calories every week in order to make weight.
“For some of those little guys on our team, its hard for them to make weight sometimes,” Thompson said. “It must be tough.”
Next year, Thompson is looking to add 10-15 pounds of muscle to his already enormous frame.
“I’m going to hit the weight room and want to consistently weigh in at around 275 or 280.”
Brian Bitney – Rogers Rams
Rogers Rams 125-pounder Brian Bitney had to monitor everything he consumed in order to stay in his weight class during the 2007-08 wrestling season.
“I didn’t necessarily eat meals. I ate some things throughout the day about five or six times a day,” Bitney said. “I’ve been wrestling for quite a while so it was pretty easy for me to do it. I’m sure for a regular person who doesn’t wrestle it would be pretty dramatic.”
After capturing fourth place at the Mat Classic, Bitney said he decided to enjoy the items he couldn’t physically afford to eat during wrestling season.
“For the next three weeks after state all I ate was junk food, junk food and more junk food,” Bitney said. “I didn’t have anything but healthy food for three months and I went the opposite route. At first it was awesome that I could eat junk food but my body felt like dirt. I was used to healthy stuff and it was a dramatic change.”
Bitney ballooned up to 141 pounds before deciding to cut back to a steady diet.
“Now I’m back to having three meals a day and having snacks,” Bitney said. “I’ve dropped down to about 136 right now.”
Next season, Bitney plans on wrestling in the 135-pound division.
Kamren Bitney – Puyallup Vikings
In order for Puyallup’s most talented wrestler during the 2007-08 season to make weight, Kamren Bitney (125 pound division) didn’t consume any carbohydrates during the wresting season.
“I probably ate eight small meals a day. It was an all protein kind of diet,” Bitney said. “No carbs during the season.”
Since the Mat Classic, Bitney has gained 13 pounds.
“I’m up to 138 right now,” Bitney said. “Now I eat whenever I’m hungry and eat bigger portions. I eat pretty much as much as I want.”
Bitney, who plans to wrestle in college, said he’s accustomed to restricting his diet to healthier food options during each wrestling season.
“For me, I’ve been doing it for awhile,” he said of his eating temptations. “In wrestling you have to have absolute discipline. That’s the hardest thing about it.”
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