The clanking of metal plates reverberates throughout the Texas High weight room as students prepare for the upcoming powerlifting season. Due to snowy weather, the original kick off was postponed and rescheduled to wrap up January. On Jan. 30, 2025, the Texas High Powerlifting team will travel to Maud High School to compete in the first meet.

Powerlifting challenges competitors’ endurance, willpower, and determination through three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. Before contestants step up to the racks, they are categorized by weight class to limit unfair advantages of incomparable strength. 

“Powerlifting is a unique sport; there’s individuality to it, and at the same time, there’s a team aspect to it. Wherever they place, first all the way down to seventh, they will be awarded team points,” coach Seth McBride said. “At the same time, if they win first, then they get the first place medal, and they [receive] an award, stand up in the award ceremony, and get [recognized].”

Since the end of football season, athletes have worked day-in and day-out to prepare to push themselves and their teammates towards the first victory of the season. Barbells loaded to their limits with plates only prove so much to oneself about personal ability, the true test is the durability of mental walls created to power through difficult lifts. 

“I feel semi-prepared. My coaches have prepared me enough, it’s just in my mind, it’s all mental,” sophomore Elise McGhee said. “Sleep and listening to music is my method to block it out. I think of it as an off switch. I get really competitive and just turn off everything else. Drown it out and give my all.”

The amount of effort and grueling work intertwined throughout the entire sport can make it difficult to stay determined, but the Texas High Powerlifting team found their own methods to the madness.

“Staying motivated is probably one of my biggest strengths,” senior Isaiah Dowden said. [I remind myself] to keep going no matter what place I get.”