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Jason.......as FCFighter indicated, everyone responds differently. Especially when factoring body types, genetics and other variables that should accompany any type of strength training regiment (in or offseason). Specifically......sport specific exercises, diet, additional supplementation, tons of stretching, and most importantly adequate rest. For my son Silas.....continued in season weight training has worked well. However, we really transition from heavier lifts, to sets of no more than 60-70% of his max for higher reps. We’ll also only do so 2 days a week.....in contrast to a full 5-6 days during National Season. With Silas being young for his class (literally a grade ahead of where he could be).....strength gains were essential early on to ensure he didn’t get bullied on the mat. So we began the summer before his 8th grade year and haven’t looked back. We started supplementing with 100% whey protein in 8th grade to assist recovery. That’s still a staple. He began utilizing creatine his freshman year.....but we’ve switched to a supplement called Mass Impact (Advocare) which consists of a healthy/safe mix of creatine, glutamine and other essential amino’s. His body has responded well. Eating clean and allowing at least 48hrs rest between training muscle groups has been what’s worked best for him. I’d highly recommend tons of plyometrics, agility/footwork drills, and medicine ball circuits to well round and help translate new strength towards technique. I can assure you that there’s no “secret sauce” for wrestler development or success. A young athlete just needs to embrace the philosophy of “nobody will outwork me” and apply it to every facet of their life to become the best version of themselves possible. It sounds to me like you and your son are on that similar path. So just allow his body, as well as his mental motivation and overall drive to be the determining factor of when to push harder.....and when to ease up. It has to stay enjoyable. Because with the amount of pain a young man has to endure to become elite....the perspective of “why” has to be a daily reminder. For instance.....It’s not conditioning, it’s 3rd period preparation. It’s not about wins & losses, it’s about becoming the best “you” possible. If you train the psychological side equally as hard as the physical......the winning will take care of itself. And in doing so, you’ll build in your son the type of attributes that will make him a champion at life.....not just a champion at wrestling. This is the dynamic that’s worked well for us. Hopefully some of this info can help you and your son inch closer towards your own mutual goals as well.

Putting the final touches on it today and tomorrow, Sunday at the latest, hopefully tomorrow evening.

When is that Preseason Magazine dropping? Will it still be called a Preseason Magazine?

May want to pre-sale tickets...............Jimmy T is a big a draw and with 98 degrees concert coming to town there will be a shared similar female fan demographic I can only assume !!! Nick Lachey < Jimmy T

Congratulations to Kyle Cornwell from Elwood for signing with Indiana. He is projected to wrestle 197, 285. View full signing

Every practice you do and your opponent doesnt do you gain or keep separating yourself from the field

If you are really willing to put a little time into it, the Attack Style Wrestling podcast with Daryl Webber did a really good job of talking about strength training for wrestling. He did a 3 part podcast series on it that was really good. I found the second podcast in the series, but do a little searching and you can find the others. I remember Weber ( NCAA champ at Iowa ) saying during the season he did very heavy lifts in sets of 1 to 3 to keep his explosiveness. His guest is or was the strength coach for Rutgers - Even Esh. https://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/attack-style-wrestling/asw31-part-2-strength-training-for-wrestling-with-zach-even-esh/

As we started this season, I reached out to some former wrestlers for words to provide to the guys who think the sport isn't for them. These were guys who weren't "wrestling first" guys. These were guys who either had to be talked into being on the team, were there specifically to prep for football, chose not to wrestle one year, etc. This particular reply stood out, and I thought the Gorilla community might enjoy it. For the record, this is from a 2013 graduate. This particular wrestler was a one time sectional champion and did not qualify for semi-state. Somehow I find that makes his words more powerful...not from a top-dog guy. From a guy who was grinding every day just getting what he could out of the sport. Almost better than this longer version is the text he sent me later when I thanked him - "It's simple though, mentally, wrestling makes all other high school sports easier." The Struggle is REAL: Wrestling at first glance seems like it’s mostly physical. I wrestled for four years and didn’t understand what it was doing for my mental development yet, so regretfully I took a year off. After a year away, luckily I enjoyed what it did for me enough physically to come back to the mat for another three years. I wish someone could snap their fingers, tell you that your hard work will be worth it, and you will just believe it. Sorry, too bad it’s harder than that. At first glance, it’s doesn’t seem so, but wrestling is more mentally than physically beneficial. You know that feeling you have deep inside when you’re struggling? Just trust in yourself and know, that feeling is the first sign that you’re about to learn something new about yourself. Be conscious, have the wherewithal to push through the struggle for a solution, then take the time to reflect on what pushing through that struggle taught you, and ultimately you will have truly learned that NOTHING worth learning is easy. Each time you learn something new, it will breathe new confidence within you to go through the next struggle or barrier in your way. Whatever you do, take the measures and have targeted objectives to get better at struggling. Break down personal barriers and do yourself a favor, use what you’ve learned to struggle for a shorter period the next time. Make the valleys shallower and the peaks higher with each learning experience. Put in the time to learn the mental chess game that wrestling really is, and you won’t regret that decision. Learn how to strategically and more efficiently employ both your body and mind. Once you’ve learned how to tie a few good moves together, counter your opponent, and mentally grind through a full three periods, then win or lose you just took the measures to think one step ahead of the person in front of you; a skill you’ll use for the rest of your life. Struggles will come as long as you live. Wrestling has mentally prepared me for handling trials and tribulations. I hope that you’ll have that same experience.

I say this in a general sense, but if you lift in the off season and then do not during the season, you WILL lose strength and the benefits of the off season training. Just got to be sure to keep weight off. I believe what Perseverance mentioned he is doing with Silas is the way to go.

How many schools participate in morning conditioning?

Congratulations to Hunter Watts from Jimtown for signing with Central Michigan. He is projected to wrestle 133. View full signing

Congrats Smalley! Great school and top notch wrestling program.

Thanks perseverance...and thanks for your prayers..in my recent struggles

IU lost a dual meet to Virginia the day before the Hokie Open as well. Konrath wrestled at 141 and was one of only a couple Hoosiers to win. So either Konrath won the spot or Weaver is possibly injured for the time being? My guess is healthy or not, Konrath is the answer at 141.

We don't do morning "conditioning" but one day a week we go before school instead of after school. It has two big benefits: 1) The change up of practice time is enjoyable for the guys. It is nice to go home as soon as school is done once a week. 2) A new sense of urgency is created when practice "has" to be done by a certain time. Coaches and athletes both have to keep things moving and make sure no one is late to first period.

We are a society full of fat kids and adults. So....