For many wrestlers, stepping onto the scale can feel almost as important as stepping onto the mat. Athletes often plan their eating, hydration, and workouts around reaching a certain number before competition. For Bellevue High School junior Shaan Kahlon, one extreme weight cut made him question whether this part of the sport was helping wrestlers or hurting them.

Kahlon first became interested in grappling in sixth grade, when a friend invited him to try judo. He later began wrestling before his freshman season and quickly made the sport a major part of his life. “I’ve been able to express myself a lot through grappling,” Kahlon said. “Judo and wrestling are definitely central to my life.” Wrestling also changed him beyond competition. Kahlon said he became more confident, disciplined, and aware of his health. He started learning more about nutrition, hydration, and electrolytes, which were all subjects that would later help inspire MakeWeight AI.

That interest became personal to him during the 2024 freestyle season. After gaining weight following his folkstyle season, Kahlon found himself more than 20 pounds above the 144-pound class he had registered for. To make weight, he spent three days barely eating or drinking while doing cardio, also excessively using saunas, and practicing in heavy layers. “I realized I was suffering,” Kahlon said. Despite the effort, he performed poorly at the tournament. The experience showed him that reaching a lower number did not always lead to better results. Going into his junior season, Kahlon made the decision to stop cutting weight and chose to compete at his natural weight instead.

The decision meant facing athletes who were often bigger and stronger, but it led to one of the best seasons of his career. Kahlon reached the blood round (finals) at the state tournament, leaving him one match away from placing.

“I realized that cutting weight can be beneficial, but what matters more is your performance at competition and how you feel going into your matches,” he said. His experience also helped him notice a larger issue. Kahlon said his program at Bellevue gave him access to nutritionists and guidance, but many wrestlers do not receive the same support. Without reliable information, younger wrestlers may copy older athletes who stop eating, limit water, or practice unhealthy habits. Kahlon believes this is especially dangerous for high school athletes who are still growing.

That lack of education helped inspire MakeWeight AI. By combining his wrestling experience with his interest in coding, Kahlon began creating a resource meant to give athletes more accessible information about nutrition and weight management. For Kahlon, the project represents a new way of thinking about success. The true purpose of making weight isn't reaching a number, it is to help athletes perform well without putting their health on the line.