GCSU’s powerlifting team, GC Power, was created in 2022 and started in their coach, Hampton Pelton’s, basement and has been competing since the beginning. 

New and experienced lifters find a sense of community in the club and feel welcome among its members. Those who don’t know what they are doing are helped by more educated lifters. 

“My love for the sport has always stemmed from the sense of community it brings,” said Dawson Daniel, a junior middle grades education major. 

Club members enjoy the atmosphere of competitions and appreciate the opportunity to make friends. Pelton is always excited to see new people find a love for powerlifting, especially when they stick with it. 

“Seeing the fire in their eyes pushes me to be a better coach, athlete, and person every time I step into the gym,” Pelton said.

No matter how long they have been lifting or how much experience they have, club members were all learning the same lesson in life. A lesson coach Pelton tries to teach the lifters is getting the job done. 

“Life doesn’t care… even if you have had a long day at the office, you still have to hit your session and get the job done,” Pelton said. 

Pelton isn’t the only one who has this perspective on weightlifting and its lessons. 

“When I’m lifting, I tell myself: one more rep, one more minute, one more set,” said Payton Antwine, a freshman pre-nursing major. 

The idea of putting mind over matter and to keep pushing even when things are hard is a way Pelton motivates his lifter. He believes that lifting is a slow burn, a matter of willpower and small growth. 

“Lifting is for everyone; not everyone is for lifting,” Pelton said. 

Pushing past their limits and dedicating themselves to lifting are what make sport worth it for some students. 

“I generally do 12–16-week preps, which can be long and grueling,” Daniel said. “It can be a very uplifting experience as well! Showing off all of that hard work can be a very satisfying experience.” 

Daniel and Antwine get a therapeutic effect from lifting; they feel a sense of relief from stress and other strong emotions. Sometimes lifting induces more stress, especially during competition. 

Stress can fall on both coaches and lifters during competitions. Coaches feel pressure about how well they have prepared the lifters, and lifters are stressed about how they will perform. 

This stress is similar to that in any sport that involves competing against others. In comparison to other sports, lifters get to show off their hard work to others and support friends and teammates during competitions. 

“Getting to show off all of the hard work that you put in…is such an exciting experience,” Daniel said. “Words cannot completely describe the atmosphere that a competition brings.” 

Powerlifting has also given students the opportunity to reflect on their past, not just on how they used to be physically, but also on the mental state they were in when they were using lighter weights. 

“I am most proud of my 512-pound squat,” Daniel said. “I had previously missed 507, it felt good to finally break the 500-pound barrier.” 

This article isn’t meant to scare anyone away from the club, but to show the public the passion and love everyone has for their craft. People with no experience of lifting are welcome to join and learn from the club. 

Many club members are willing to help with any questions about the process, and they love seeing new people. Anyone looking for personal growth, to make some friends, to learn a new skill or just to get in better shape should try GC Power. 

“You have to give up part of your dignity to start lifting at first, because honestly it’s a little embarrassing, but be willing to laugh at yourself and you will be ok,” Antwine said.