Didier Novoa walked around at approximately 168 pounds and competed at 157. When he began working with Coach Joe shortly before Super 32, wrestling wasn’t his problem. Nutrition, hydration and preparation were.
“Didier didn’t need a perfect meal plan. He needed a plan that worked when he was standing inside a gas station between two practices—and he needed to learn that hydration starts every day, not six days before a weigh-in.”
Coach Joe
Instead of handing Didier a perfect meal plan that didn’t fit his actual life, Coach Joe taught him how to make better choices wherever he happened to be.
They eventually developed what was jokingly called Didier’s “gas-station meal plan”—simple foods and drinks he could find almost anywhere to fuel practices, support recovery and keep his weight moving in the right direction.
Most importantly, Didier established a consistent daily hydration routine. He stopped beginning every weight cut already behind and learned how to properly support the enormous amount of training he was doing.
Once Didier mastered Coach Joe’s Six-Day Weigh-In Prep, making 157 became a controlled and repeatable process instead of a last-minute emergency.
Most importantly, Didier established a consistent daily hydration routine. He stopped beginning every weight cut already behind and learned how to properly support the enormous amount of training he was doing.
Once Didier mastered Coach Joe’s Six-Day Weigh-In Prep, making 157 became a controlled and repeatable process instead of a last-minute emergency.
The first major test came at Super 32.
Competing against an elite field, Didier finished with a 3–2 record and reached the blood round. He came just one victory short of earning Super 32 All-American honors.
That performance was only the beginning.
Didier went on to finish his high-school season with an incredible 42–4 record and placed second in the Florida State Tournament at 157 pounds.
Didier already possessed the wrestling talent, toughness and work ethic. The right nutrition, hydration and weight-management system helped ensure those qualities were still available when he stepped onto the mat.
A Note From Coach Joe
I’ve worked with a lot of great wrestlers and developed relationships with a lot of incredible young athletes, but Didier will always hold a special place with me.
Despite being recruited by several Division I programs, Didier ultimately decided not to wrestle at the college level. But our relationship didn’t end with his final high-school match.
Every once in a while, I’ll still receive a text from Didier asking a nutrition or training question. I always love hearing from him.
The 42–4 record, the Super 32 blood-round appearance and the Florida state-finals run were all incredible accomplishments. But the relationships that continue after the wrestling is over are what make coaching truly special.
About Didier’s Results
- Competed at Super 32 and finished with a 3–2 record.
- Reached the blood round and came within one victory of becoming a Super 32 All-American.
- Completed his high-school season with a 42–4 record.
- Finished second in the Florida State Tournament at 157 pounds.
- Learned how to properly fuel and hydrate through two—and sometimes three—practices in one day.
- Mastered the Six-Day Weigh-In Prep and made his descent from approximately 168 pounds to 157 more predictable and manageable.
- Didier’s results reflect his wrestling ability, work ethic and willingness to consistently follow the plan.
- Every athlete has a different starting point, schedule and response to coaching, so individual results will always vary.
