Differences In Body Fat Percentage And Minimum Wrestling Weight Values Between Ncaa And Naia Women’S Wrestlers

The estimation of body fat percentage (BF%) in wrestling is used to determine the minimum wrestling weight (MWW) and lowest allowable weight class for wrestlers to compete in. The current minimum threshold for BF% used to calculate MWW is 12% for women wrestlers, yet a potential increase has been discussed. Because of the novelty of collegiate women’s wrestling, there is a paucity of literature available on the body composition norms of this population. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to characterize the BF% and MWW values of collegiate women wrestlers. METHODS: Data from the 2022-2023 collegiate season was retrospectively analyzed using a sample of 1,648 collegiate women wrestlers from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA, n = 866) and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA, n = 782). Data were extracted from the weight certification submission system provided by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. All wrestlers completed skinfold assessments for weight certification at the start of the competition season, with values entered into the system to compute BF% using the Slaughter skinfold equation. RESULTS: There was a positively skewed (0.94) and platykurtic (1.86) distribution of MWW values. Table 1 provides a summary of MWW and BF% values. When pre-season weight was compared to the MWW, wrestlers competing in the NCAA were farther from MWW than those in the NAIA (NCAA: 13.4 ± 7.9 vs. NAIA: 12.1 ± 7.8 kg, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Wrestlers competing in the NCAA had a slightly higher BF% and lower MWW compared to those competing in the NAIA. Increasing the minimum BF% threshold from 12% to 17% (5th percentile) would affect a small percentage of wrestlers. On average, wrestlers were 13 kg away from their MWW at the start of the season. Table 1. - Minimum wrestling weights and body fat percentage values Weight (kg) MWW (kg) BF% 5th BF% 25th BF% 50th BF% 75th BF% 95th BF% NAIA 64.5 ± 17.9 53.5 ± 10.9 26.8 ± 9.7 17.2 22.1 26.8 31.8 41.4 NCAA 64.2 ± 17.5 52.2 ± 10.6* 27.9 ± 11.3* 17.5 23.7 27.9 35.1 44.3 All 64.4 ± 17.7 52.8 ± 10.8 27.4 ± 10.2 17.2 22.6 27.40 32.9 43.2 Distribution of Wrestlers in Each Weight Class (in lbs.) Association 46 49 53 56 59 62 65 70 77 87 NCAA (n) 140 141 127 109 95 53 46 47 20 4 NAIA (n) 137 114 141 135 105 83 58 52 24 17