The effects of a collegiate wrestling season on body composition, cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength and endurance.

The purposes of this investigation were: (1) to study the body composition, cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength and endurance of collegiate wrestlers during the course of a season; (2) to determine if selected regression equations used to predict minimal wrestling weight were accurate; (3) to determine if the wrestlers who participated in the study had an accurate perception of their ideal minimal wrestling weights. Body composition (body densitometry), aerobic power (Vo2 max), and muscular strength and endurance (isokinetic) were measured during pre, peak, and post-seasons. The fact that very few significant changes occurred in these measurements during the course of the study appears to be the result of year-round training on the part of the athletes studied. Their peak-season percent body fat (8.36%) was very similar to that reported in other studies involving mature wrestlers. Rapid weight loss through dehydration appeared to be the preferred method of weight reduction among these athletes.