Looking for an edge

CEDAR RAPIDS - People get excited for the winter months because of the food, especially over the holidays.

For wrestlers, however, it's just the start of cutting weight and wrestling practice.

'The hardest part of wrestling is definitely the weight,” said Xavier sophomore Josh Gerke, who has been wrestling for 10 years. 'I try to stay positive with it most of the time”

Most people don't are not keeping an exact calculation of how much weight they are gaining at each meal.

'Last year I did not eat that much (at Thanksgiving), but this year I ate a lot of food,” he said. 'But, I worked out three times that day.”

Gerke is ranked sixth in the state at 126 pounds. When he prepares for a meet, he first weighs in and he makes sure to drink lots of water. Sometimes he even eats a small sandwich. Some people many wonder if it is all worth it to not eat for days just for a sport.

'I think it's worth it,” Gerke said. 'Everyone is always looking for an edge in a sport. For wrestling a way to get an edge is to cut weight so you're bigger and stronger than who you will wrestle.”

Wrestling is a sport that is both individual and team driven. A wrestler's goal is to win their match as well as add to the team point total. It also is a sport that uses a great deal of mental and physical toughness.

'Wrestling has changed from when I was little to now,” Gerke said. 'Everything just gets a lot faster. I used to only really do one or two moves and I would be fine but you really have to be smart and quick with what your going to do.”

Xavier hosts Jefferson in a dual on Thursday.