'Tis The Season Not To Overeat For Wrestlers

The holidays mean different things to different people. There’s family, traditions, presents, lights, songs and of course, overeating–plenty of overeating.

Whether its cookies and cakes, or ham and potatoes, food is rarely in short supply over the holidays, and that is a growing teenager’s dream.

It can also be a wrestling coach’s nightmare.

Wrestling is a sport competed by weight class, where as little as a pound can make the difference in a wrestler making weight or a team having to forfeit that weight class. So while many teenagers have the freedom to feast over winter break, wrestlers have to be a little more selective.

“The holidays are a time to miss weight, so we tell everyone not to just eat as much as you want,” junior Rory Bonner said. “That’s a mistake.”

That’s not to suggest all fun is lost. wrestling coach John Craig said he urges his players to enjoy the festivities and time with family and friends. He just wants them to also use their brains.

“I just try to tell them to have a good time and to enjoy their holiday, but at the same time don’t be afraid to go out and get a jog or get a workout in,” Craig said. “Enjoy yourself, but get a workout in and come in at a reasonable shape so we can work you down in a good, healthy way.”

For some lucky wrestlers, this is a non-issue. Certain wrestlers are blessed with metabolisms that burn off food the second it enters the body. One of those wrestlers is freshman Griffin Bonner, who weighs in around 100 pounds. He is thankful that adding pounds isn’t a great concern right now, but knows that comes with some razzing from his teammates.

“A lot of the people on my team kind of envy the freedom that I have within my weight,” Griffin said with a laugh. “I weigh in, and I’m about three pounds under every weigh-in. I’m sitting there drinking and eating chips during weigh-ins and people are giving me these nasty looks like, ‘What are you doing?’”

The Eagles will not have an extended break as they are one of 16 teams competing in the Egg Harbor Tournament on Thursday. Craig expects his wrestlers to be up to the task.

“It will be good competition there, and we will see how some of our guys make out,” Craig said. “We have a lot of guys that could possibly go there and make some noise.”

The boys’ and girls’ basketball teams are also in action over winter break. The boys will go straight from being off on Christmas to being on the court Dec. 26 against Delran at the Delran Holiday Hoops Tournament at noon.

The girls’ team plays in the Gloucester Catholic Christmas Tournament, beginning Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Eagles are scheduled to take on Gloucester Catholic in the opener.