In recent weeks, max had become all but unbeatable, to the point that wrestling matches had largely stopped being a challenge and as a result the contagion, sensing less of a need to adapt Max's body, slowed his growth. Two weeks later, Max was disappointed to see he weighed in at only 138 lbs. A gain of only 5 lbs seemed measly in comparison to the double digit gains he'd posted for the past month. It was at this weigh in that the coach announced that Max had entered a new weight class, much to the other smaller boy's relief as they would no longer need to go up against Max. Max was a little apprehensive about having to face larger, taller boys, some of whom were even teenagers, but he was also excited for the challenge. In his first several matches, Max was pretty easily laid out by his opponents, all of them bigger than him. Max looked more muscular than some of them due to having his muscle packed onto a short 5'1" frame, but he was still the lightest wrestler in his weight class ion the team. One other wrestler stood out to him: Ryan Hodges. Ryan was 16 but was built for wrestling. Standing a tall 6' even, he had a broad frame that weighed in at 188 lbs and was packed with muscle as well as a healthy layer of fat that offered him extra mass to throw around on the wrestling mats. Ryan had thus far remained undefeated in his and now Max's weight class.
Max had grown unaccustomed to losing, and the taste of defeat lit a new fire in him to become the best wrestler on the team. Little did he know the contagion was also going to help him along the way.
After 2 weeks, Max had not only gained 10 lbs, bringing him up to 148 lbs, but had even gained another inch in height, putting him at 5'3". It was around this time that max began going to the gym with his football stud brother Andy who helped him learn the ropes around the gym. Between his new exercise regime with Andy and wrestling practice, the contagion was working in overdrive to help Max grow faster than ever. Another 2 weeks later, Max weighed in at 156 lbs, up 18 lbs form the last weigh in. He even grew 2 more inches to 5'5" as the contagion recognized that his height would be advantageous in his wrestling mats, as well as give room for more muscle without losing flexibility. The other wrestling team members were getting freaked out by how fast Max was growing, and Max was starting to win some of his matches. 2 more weeks had provided Max with another 19 lbs and 2 inches in eight, making him 175 lbs and 5'7". Max at this point looked more like a bodybuilder than a wrestler, especially since his body retained no body fat whatsoever. Every striation and vein was visible, even unflexed. The wrestling coach as well as some of the other wrestling team members began to grow suspicious that Max was taking something to get so jacked. After all, who expects to see a 12 year old's face on top of what looks like a seasoned professional bodybuilder's body. But all the tests came back clean and after seeing Andy, they assumed it was a family thing and he was allowed to compete. 2 more weeks later and Max had blown up to 192 lbs at 5'9", certainly impressive for any adult man, but unheard of for a 12 year old. At this point he would've been almost the same size as his brother Andy, except that Andy, still feeling some residual effects of the contagion himself, had pumped himself up to over 220 lbs over the past several weeks of working out with Max.
At this point Max felt confident enough to take on Ryan who still had yet to be defeated. He might not be quite as tall, but he outweighed Ryan, and not only that but Max was solid muscle, not weighed down by any of the fat that padded out Ryan's bulky frame. Thanks to his greater speed, Max was able to take Ryan down faster than anyone else anticipated, causing an uproar among the other team members.
Max had established his spot at the top of the weight class.