Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Report

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology and Health Science

Committee Chair(s)

Brennan Thompson

Committee

Brennan Thompson

Committee

Dale Wagner

Committee

Jon Carey

Abstract

This study examines the effects a single wrestling season has on high school athletes’ body composition, muscle quality, membrane capacitance, and neuromuscular performance, and whether instrumented medicine balls are sensitive enough to serve as a field test for chronic fatigue. Twenty-five high school wrestlers (males=18, females=7) were recruited and assessed pre-season (Pre), mid-season (Mid), and end-of-season (Post). Outcome measures included body mass, fat-free mass, fat mass (via bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy), echo intensity (EI, via B-mode ultrasound) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps brachii (BB), and countermovement rotational and backward-overhead throws with medicine balls instrumented with accelerometers.  Repeated measures ANOVA analyses showed no effect of time on body mass (p = 0.064) or fat-free mass (p = 0.163), but fat mass decreased significantly throughout the season at Post (p = 0.004). Membrane capacitance also changed significantly at Mid (p = 0.012) but stabilized between Mid and Post.  EI analysis showed that VL muscle quality changed over time, with a nonsignificant decrease in muscle quality (increased EI) from Pre to Mid and then a significant increase in muscle quality from Mid to Post. There was no change for BB EI over time (p = 0.411).  Rotational throw velocity was unchanged across the season (p = 0.533), but backward-overhead throw velocity declined significantly across the season at Post (p = 0.002). These findings suggest that, under current weight management regulations, wrestlers maintain overall body mass while still showing seasonal reductions in fat mass, exhibit  changes in lower body muscle quality, and that backward-overhead medicine ball throws may be a sensitive field measure of chronic fatigue in high school wrestlers.

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