Rider Raider powerlifting is going for gold this Saturday at their first meet of the season. The lifters see this as not only their first meet, but also as their first step toward regionals.
“We are very confident this season,” Head Powerlifting Coach Bill Davison said. “We have four girls and one boy who were regional qualifiers last year returning.”
The team consists of mostly veteran lifters but there are newcomers who show just as much potential. Every one of them has his or her own unique strengths and abilities that they bring to the table, but they all have one thing in common.
“Dedication, man,” first year lifter Colton Baley said. “Lifters are unique, a breed of their own.”
No one on the team plans on achieving less than their best. For many of them, that’s what it’s all about, being the best they can be.
“I’m really looking forward to getting the season started and seeing how far our athletes will go,” Davison said. “They all have goals they want to accomplish and they push themselves very hard to reach those goals.”
But of course it wouldn’t be a sport if lifters only competed with themselves. To the judges, it’s all about how one does compared to the competition.
“Last year we had nine lifters that qualified for regionals,” Davison said. “This year I would like to have more than that qualify.”
With five regional qualifiers returning to the team this season lifting in combination with the new comers, that’s definitely a possibility. Especially with the drive shared by every member of the team. Not one of them will accept less than their best.
“The lifters are always trying to get heavier weights or new personal bests,” Davison said. “Each competitor in power lifting has a strong desire to compete and a willingness to push beyond where they started.”