The Timber Creek power lifting team is bringing the heat as they train and participate on the upcoming competition season of 2017. The sport requires intense training including lifting weights and reaching the body’s boundaries. It is a individual sport that entails strength of both body and mind.
Region for power lifting was on Feb.23 and two power lifters, Tanner Oliver and Emily Daniel, advanced to the next round. This year, Timber Creek’s power lifting team have been successful. In each meet lifters have placed in the top ten and along the competition season lifters have achieved personal records.
In every competition the participant must be weighed in order to figure out what weight class they are in. From there, they begin to compete in their events such as,the squat rack, dead lift and bench press in which the power lifters have three attempts to reach their maximum weight for the day. The judges then record the best score of out the three.
Emily Daniel, one of those that regionally advanced and a accomplished power lifter explained the difficulties that went into her sport. “It’s a lot of hard work and dedication,” Daniel said. “You must train year around and can’t take more than three days off or you start losing weight off your last max rep.”
However, Daniel further elaborated concluding, it was all worth it seeing a boys’ face after telling them how much she lifts. She also loves to encourage other power lifters when they reach their personal records by cheering others on during competition.
“When I go to a lifting meet I try and be the best sport I can be that includes wrapping knees for other teams,” said Daniels.
Furthermore, the athletes who compete are aware of the misconceptions about their sport. They respond with the proof that it can be for all genders and weight classes.
“I would want everyone to know that it’s not exclusive to a certain group of people,” said power lifter, Ty Nicholson. “Anyone can come and try it out. It’s a good chance to get stronger and see how competitive you can really be.”
A lot of the the athletes are in multiple sports and use power lifting to help them increase body mass and strength so that they can get increase their stamina and endurance going into their other sports.
Michael Alvarez, a seasoned lifter, said, “It’s a sport just like wrestling. It could definitely help you get stronger for other sports.”
The program is growing each year and the hope for next year is to keep improving as they strive for more people to join and make region and state.
“Power lifting is a friendly competition to me,” explained Dylan Niles, a junior power lifter. “The other competitors from other schools participate and its just a great way to get stronger and have some fun.”