Powerlifting is like a newborn baby in the sporting world. It’s popularity is on the rise and it doesn’t look like it will be stopping anytime soon.

Dating back to mid-October, the 2021-2022  PLHS powerlifting season started with many members not knowing what to expect after joining. Now, as the end of the season is approaching with the state competition, lifters take a look-back at their season. But for those that don’t know, what exactly is powerlifting?

“Powerlifting is a sport where you basically lift as much as you can,” freshman powerlifter Carson Durst said. “There’s 3 main lifts, squat, bench[press], and deadlift.”

The concept seems pretty simple at first, and that is no misconception. little experience is needed to start and grow stronger.

“My lifting experience was limited to more varied workouts over 2021,” Durst said. “As opposed to the main focuses of powerlifting.”

That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t take hard work and dedication though. Many hours of training and discipline are important to excelling, and those values are especially important when it comes to failures in Powerlifting.

“I’ve probably struggled with form most,” Durst said. “It plays a huge role in the sport and doing it wrong will only lose pounds [on your lift].”

Overcoming these challenges can be very invigorating, often filling one with a sense of accomplishment. But the best place to feel accomplishment is at powerlifting competitions called meets. Freshman Thomas Raffensberger experienced his first this season.

“My first meet was very different than I thought it would be,” freshman powerlifter Thomas Raffensberger said. “It was very fun and nerve-racking at the same time.”

Completing a goal is a great feeling. Oftentimes, it can bear more than one originally thought it could, and that is when the feeling of solace can really shine through. When experiences get close to their end, it’s nice to take a step back and really reflect on what happened.

“It has humbled me and made me stronger,” Raffensberger said.