By Drew Pariano Northwestern University assistant wrestling coach
See the issue: November 2008

As a high weight class wrestler, how can I balance agility and weight training? 

Agility is extremely important in helping you stay sharp until the end of the long wrestling season, which is crucial for success. Most athletes tend to get slower throughout the season because they don’t train quickness.

Outsiders watching a higher weight class match might think the guys are slow. But just because they don’t go as hard as a 125-pound guy for seven minutes, they do have powerful, quick spurts, which is why we train all of our guys the same way—no matter their weight class.

We practice six days a week, working on agility at least once a day. Four times a week, we lift weights in the morning. This wakes up the athletes’ bodies and allows for sufficient rest time before practice. These morning sessions last about an hour, and we incorporate some agility-style lifts, along with an agility warm-up routine, all to work our fast twitch muscles.

The athletes then have an 11-hour rest time before practice, which is when they attend class and relax. Our evening practices usually last no longer than two hours and include agility training at the end. This entire workout regimen creates a mindset for our guys during their matches. When the third period comes around, our guys are excited; they feel fresh and quick, which is a huge advantage in college wrestling.

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