INFLUENCE OF RAPID WEIGHT-GAIN AFTER THE WEIGH-IN ON SUCCESS IN COLLEGIATE WRESTLERS

We investigated whether acute weight gain between the weigh-in and com petition was associated with success in a collegiate wrestling tournam ent. Wrestlers at the NCAA championships were weighed at the official weigh-in and again just before the first round of the tournament (20 h later). Weight gain and the weight discrepancy between first-round op ponents were calculated (N = 607 excluding heavyweights). Indices of s uccess included season record (% wins in total matches), tournament se eding, the sum of the advancement and placement points scored during t he tournament (team points), and final placement in the tournament. AN OVA showed no differences in weight variation between placewinners and non-placewinners, or across placewinners only. Correlation coefficien ts among weight variables and indices of success were also low (P > 0. 05). Multiple logistic regression, used to determine whether weight ga in or weight discrepancy between opponents contributed to success in t he first round of the tournament, revealed that neither variable was p redictive of first-round outcome even after attempting to account for differences in ability (e.g., forcing team points into the regression first). Conclusion: neither acute weight gain after the weigh-in or th e weight discrepancy between opponents in the first round influenced s uccess in a collegiate wrestling tournament.