Stratford Lifts a New Page Powerlifting team shows their strength in inaugural season

WRITTENBYMICHAELMOUTON(12)

This year, Stratford began a new sport it hopes to dominate in upcoming years. Following the end of his team’s football season, strength coach Shawn Jezek decided the school’s talent could be used to create a powerlifting team.

Powerlifting requires students to lift weights in relation to their body weight. The heavier you lift with the correct form, the better you perform against others. With a new weight room installed last year, students have found strength training much more efficient and enjoyable.

Jezek saw powerlifting as an opportunity to let these students show off what they’ve trained hours for.

Seniors who have seen their respective sport’s season end have taken a particular liking to powerlifting. They feel they can continue what they enjoy and improve their skills.

Powerlifting also gives future college athletes more preparation for their event. UMHB football commit James Tejeda believes that powerlifting has grown both the physical and mental strength needed in his upcoming years of playing college football.

“I can’t believe I’ve been able to improve this much physically, and I’ve never been more excited to get out on the field in my life,” Tejeda commented.

Senior and Hardin-Simmons commit Jared Botary finds powerlifitng has made him more excited to kick off the season at his new school.

“These new lifts have made my strength grow like crazy,” Botary remarked.

Besides its physical benefits, powerlifting has brought many of the athletes at Stratford together. It has created bonds with the upperclassmen and underclassmen — both guys and girls

— all throughout the school.

Powerlifting truly represents what Stratford Athletics are all about: camaraderie and caliber. Good luck to the team as they finish out their season!