From Rubber Suits to Science: High School Wrestling is Trying to Fix Its Weight Problem

In the 1990s, cutting weight in high school wrestling was practically a badge of honor. I watched it up close as a manager and stats girl for my high school team. Back then, wrestlers – all boys at the time -went to extremes to make weight. They fasted, sweated through rubber suits, and sometimes even used diuretics and laxatives. Those practices weren’t just miserable; they were dangerous, and they likely made athletes weaker rather than stronger. I suspect some of those now-grown men still carry a disordered relationship with food.

Back then, resources existed promoting balanced diets and adequate calories (about 1700–2300 per day, plus more for training), but almost no one followed them. Among wrestlers, those guidelines were often dismissed as “for soft athletes” – not for winners.

Fast-forward a few decades. I’m now an assistant coach for my kids’ high school team, and the difference is striking. The culture – and the rules – have changed dramatically. In Oregon, the Oregon Wrestling Weight Monitoring Program (OWWMP) now governs how high school wrestlers manage weight, bringing structure, science, and oversight to a process that was once chaotic and unhealthy.

Before any wrestler can compete, they must pass a hydration test, weigh in on a certified scale, and undergo body fat testing, all under supervision by athletic staff. Athletes who fail hydration or fall below the minimum body fat standards (7% for boys, 12% for girls) must retest or obtain medical clearance before being allowed to participate.

Each athlete’s data is documented in a personalized weight loss plan that defines both their minimum allowable weight and the weekly limit on weight loss – no more than 1.5% of body weight per week. If a wrestler exceeds that limit, they can’t compete until they’re back within healthy parameters. The system ensures steady, safe progress rather than crash dieting.

As a coach, I can attest that this process is meticulous and time-consuming – imagine 60 wrestlers lining up for hydration tests and weigh-ins while three adults oversee the paperwork. But it’s worth every minute. These rules protect young athletes from the kind of reckless practices that once defined the sport and help them perform at their true best: strong, healthy, and focused on wrestling – not weight loss.

High school wrestling has grown up. And that’s something worth celebrating.