For those on the powerlifting team, there is nothing better than hearing the clank of hundreds of pounds of weights being moved early in the morning.
This season, the team gets to hear that sound even more as the team welcomes many new faces to the squad.
Head coach Scott Russell said the powerlifting team has doubled from 13 members to about 24-30 lifters this season as the program heads into year two.
The growth has led to a lot of enthusiasm around the team this year.
“You can just sense the energy in the room and the excitement of being there,” Russell said. “You know, 6:30 in the morning I think is tough on everybody, but the kids have bought in and they’re working, which is awesome.”
Senior Madison Karten helped the team get off the ground last year and said it has been fulfilling to see so many new faces in the weight room.
“It’s truly amazing to see like a program that I asked Russell to start grow and completely double in just over a year,” she said.
Russell said the powerlifting team gives these kids another opportunity to be competitive and improve as an athlete.
“A lot of these kids will be competing. Some of them are doing multiple sports right now with basketball and wrestling,” he said. “But a lot of them will prep for the spring sports.”
Senior Braylen Hoobler said having a bigger squad will hopefully mean the team will bring home more state medals and earn a higher team placement at state this season. Hoobler said he likes what he has seen from the boys team so far.
“I believe we have some really strong kids on our team this year that can help contribute to that state placing to be higher,” Hoobler said. “We have some juniors and people that could step up, and I think they’ll do a great job this year.”
Hoobler returns to a boys team that placed sixth overall at state last season. Hoobler was the individual state champion in his weight class as he lifted 975 pounds across the three lifts: bench press, hang clean and squat.
Russell said there are a lot of sophomores returning to the boys team whom he is excited about, including Ethan Winton and Trenton Ledom.
Karten is among several girls returning to the team this year. Karten was also a state champion in her weight class last season as she placed first in all three lifts with a total of 665 pounds.
Senior Brennan Moeckel and junior Reese Pattison also return to the girls team after placing at state last season. The girls team placed third overall.
Karten said the sky’s the limit for the girls team.
“Hopefully with everybody in there with their strongest lifts and their progression over the season we’ll score higher and maybe take second or take state this year,” Karten said.
Russell said his main goal for each team is to just see every athlete improve.
“If they’re improving their PRs, they’re getting better,” he said. “And if they’re getting better individually, the powerlifting team is getting better.”
Russell said the team will hold an intersquad meet on Dec. 16 to get all the new kids up to speed on how a meet works, but the team’s first official meet will be held virtually on Jan. 6.
Reach reporter Jack Denebeim at [email protected].
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