In 1997, the U.S. wrestling community took a big hit when three amateur wrestlers participating in extreme weight loss plans died within a 35-day period. The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) is working to prevent extreme weight-loss tactics and have the wrestlers concentrating more on wrestling at a healthy weight than in a lower weight class.

The NWCA has put out a new program called the Optimum Performance Calculator (OPC), which uses a preseason assessment of hydration level, body fat composition and weight to keep wrestlers healthy. Those three sets of data are thrown into a series of equations and two safeguards are figured, a lowest allowable weight class and a safe weight loss descent plan. The OPC is not only a program where a coach can insert information to see how much weight his wrestlers can lose, but it also is a program where the individual athletes can look at their weight loss plans and set comparative goals. The NWCA has finally started this program into every high school in 35 different states, and the progress is evident.

Ligonier wrestlers at the varsity and junior high levels began using this program last year and it has been officially implemented into the wrestling program. The wrestlers, instead of going to a family physician and getting a certified weight, come to the school to see the athletic trainer and take a urine test to prove their hydration. They then get weighed, and finally, a body fat test is completed. Within two weeks the information should be on the computers and ready for the athletes to begin their diets.

Tyler Gross, Ligonier Valley’s 103/112 lb. wrestler, on average needs to lose three to four lbs. before a match. Tyler’s change in his diet includes a decline of sweets and fattening foods and an increase of fruits and vegetables. The diet does not always work, so Tyler will wrestle and work out in sweats to increase perspiration and not eat at all the day of the match.

“I like the OPC program because its healthy and saves kids lives, but I don’t like it because if you don’t make the set standards at the weigh-ins then it is completely changed,” Tyler said.

Tyler’s mixed emotions are shared among wrestlers on the team.

Team captain Myers Miller thinks the program is effective and very worthwhile. Myers, who wants to wrestle at the 160 lb. weight class at the end of the season, said “It’s a considerable amount of work with much time and calculation needed to stick to the program and it requires a lot of diligence.”

Myers currently competes at the 171 lb weight class and weighs on average 167 lbs.

Senior Nathan Cahill, Ligonier Valley’s 119 lb. wrestler, does not like the OPC program. His reasoning is the fact that he does not have the weight to lose, but he has to shed pounds anyway. Nathan somehow loses three lbs. before every match. He eats only one meal a day as soon as the season begins.

“Two years ago, my sophomore year, I had to lose eight lbs before one of our matches, but I was completely dead. I got destroyed by someone I should’ve beaten,” Nathan said.

Coach Matt Gross thinks highly of the OPC system and believes that competition will become better than ever.

“I have to put the weigh-ins and the results into the web site it only takes 10 minutes for me to do. It isn’t that much work at all,” Coach Gross said.

These wrestlers are not the only ones who have trouble with their weight classes or even weigh more than their actual weight class. This program is designed to stop that from happening and to prevent any accidents that can occur due extreme loss of weight. OPC will soon eliminate unhealthy losses of weight in all sports, as all sports will be required to apply to this program in a few years.

“This program protects our athletes and will raise competition and makes the matches even more intense than ever,” Coach Gross said.