Will Brumit is a shell of his former self.

Don Shrubshell photo

Hickman senior Will Brumit, left, enters Friday’s Class 4 District 3 wrestling tournament 8-15 in the 135-pound class. Brumit wrestled at 189 pounds last year. By eating healthier meals and running 2-6 miles per day, Brumit has drastically changed his body.

He likes it that way.

Entering this weekend’s Class 4 District 3 wrestling tournament in Jefferson City, the Hickman senior barely resembles the wrestler that competed as a member of the junior varsity last year.

For starters, he’s dropped a few pounds.

Actually, he’s dropped a few weight classes.

After competing for the JV at 189 pounds last year, Brumit has handled Hickman’s starting varsity position at 135 pounds this season.

That’s a 54-pound difference, but Brumit’s incredible shrinking act is not the product of some extreme wrestling weight cut. It’s the result of a change in attitude, appetite and lots of exercise.

"I just started running and walking on my own and eating healthier," Brumit said.

Weighing 210 pounds at his heaviest in the summer of 2005, the 5-foot-7 Brumit adopted a lifestyle last February that revolved around exercise and eating right. Already down to almost 180 pounds by the end of wrestling season, Brumit decided to drop a few more pounds before his senior year started.

Participating in spring conditioning with the football team, Brumit started running on his own before and after workouts. Brumit said he forced himself to run 2-6 miles a day.

"We saw him running when we came for football," said Spencer McGowan, a teammate of Brumit’s on the football and wrestling teams. "We always thought he was crazy when it was 3 o’clock and like 100 degrees, and he’s out there running laps."

If the running was the hard part, changing his eating habits was, well … a piece of cake. Or a lack thereof. He cut out sweets, started drinking water instead of soda and went for roughage over rubbish.

"I just used common sense," Brumit said. "A cheeseburger versus a salad. I could figure that out."

He had no set weight in mind, but, as Brumit started exercising more and eating less fast food, he soon discovered there was no limit to how low his weight could go.

"It just started coming off," Brumit said. "I was down to 170 and 160 and I was like, ‘I like this.’

"I had to push myself, but I was determined to do it. I had already made up my mind. Once it started coming off, I wanted to see how far I could go."

By the end of the summer, the former 200-pound noseguard was a 150-pound linebacker on the football team.

"This fall, I had to go out and buy all new winter clothes," said Brumit, whose waist size shrunk from 38 to 29. "I used to wear mediums and larges. Now, it’s smalls. It’s amazing."

Although he missed playing on the defensive line, Brumit knew that his trim physique would put him in position to secure a starting varsity spot on the wrestling team.

Because most of Hickman’s heavier weight divisions had starters returning this season, Brumit trimmed down a little bit more to wrestle at and eventually win the Kewpies’ 135-pound position.

The transition to varsity competition was difficult early on - he lost his first six matches - but Brumit has closed the season strong to take an 8-15 mark into his first district tournament.

The top four finishers in each weight class advance to the MSHSAA championships at Mizzou Arena.

As a first-year varsity wrestler, Brumit will be a long shot to advance to the state tournament. But even if he doesn’t claim a district medal or state spot, Brumit feels he’s gained plenty during the time that he’s lost so much.

He’s healthier, happier and has even picked up a girlfriend to boot. The hard work and sacrifices have been worth all the extra effort.

"I was fat," said Brumit, adding that he had been overweight since the second grade, "and during high school, it’s not fun to be fat."

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