Beginning their season with the new year, the Timber Creek Powerlifting Team attended their first meet Jan. 10, 2019 on campus. A sport that puts even the strongest to the test, pushing the boundaries of both muscle and mental strength, Falcon athletes come together to form a team of elite heavy weight lifters which compete in three main events, squats, bench press and dead lifts, despite separation by weight class.
Sophomore, John Hester, and junior Brock Albritton, both placed first in their weight class at the initial meet. Squatting 600 pounds at his first meet, Hester reached a personal best two weeks later at the Keller High Meet, with a new personal best at 625 pounds, placing first in his weight class yet again. Training up to three times a day for improvement, His effort hasn’t come without work, practicing day in and day out no matter what.
“I’ve been preparing [for meets] by going to the weight room early [every] morning and then [again] during the football period and after school,” Hester said. “I’m going for 650 pounds on squat.”
Allbritton showed similar improvement, shifting into a separate weight class and adding 50 pounds to his initial 450 pound squat. His second season, Allbritton’s primary goal is to get stronger and push himself towards growth from his previous records, largely crediting his coaches with inspiration to complete and maintain his steady course of advancement.
“My coaches, mainly Coach Ortiz, have been very supportive of all of us,” Albritton said. “[They have] motivated us every day to be stronger and better than the day before.”
Competing for the first time this year, sophomore Kaden Bess is competing with the objective of performing at a higher level with other athletes in his weight class. Setting a high standard for himself at the second meet of the season, Bess dead lifted 365 pounds and pulled through with a squat of 400 pounds. With a highly supportive team environment and constant encouragement from his coaches, Bess has set the mentality to strive for further development in everything.
“This was my first year [power lifting],” Bess said. “I feel like [the sport] brings out your adrenaline and pushes you to do your best.”
The team’s last qualifier meet is Feb. 23, 2019 at Central High School which sets the tone for the Regional Meet on March 3, 2019. After the Regional Meet, qualifiers will progress to the State Powerlifting Meet in Abilene.