By Nick Brockman, Messenger Sports Reporter nbrockman@the-messenger.com
When envisioning spring break destinations, many individuals picture beaches, relaxing at home, maybe some fishing or perhaps a last ski trip of the season, but Madisonville-North Hopkins senior Skyler McReynolds kicked off his respite from school in unusual style.
McReynolds, a state champion powerlifter, spent Saturday and today competing in the Natural Athlete Strength Association’s 2009 Powerlifting National Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla.
“I think he’s poised and ready to do well,” North powerlifting coach Mark Phaup said.
Phaup has guided McReynolds since the Maroon began lifting as a sophomore.
“He’s just a hard-nosed kid that works extremely hard in the weight room, which you can tell by looking at him,” Phaup said.
McReynolds’ father, Bill, has also played a pivotal role in the teen’s success.
“He’s been my motivation from the start,” McReynolds said of his dad. “I used to be into fitness, watching him lift and I thought I could ask him what I could do so I could get stronger and ever since then he’s just helped me out a lot. He’s my motivation, that’s why I do it.”
McReynolds, a state champion powerlifter, spent Saturday and today competing in the Natural Athlete Strength Association’s 2009 Powerlifting National Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla.
“I think he’s poised and ready to do well,” North powerlifting coach Mark Phaup said.
Phaup has guided McReynolds since the Maroon began lifting as a sophomore.
“He’s just a hard-nosed kid that works extremely hard in the weight room, which you can tell by looking at him,” Phaup said.
McReynolds’ father, Bill, has also played a pivotal role in the teen’s success.
“He’s been my motivation from the start,” McReynolds said of his dad. “I used to be into fitness, watching him lift and I thought I could ask him what I could do so I could get stronger and ever since then he’s just helped me out a lot. He’s my motivation, that’s why I do it.”
In fact, the McReynolds’ duo even captured their own title at North’s 4th Annual Maroon Lift-A-Thon by taking the father and son bench press championship.
On March 14, McReynolds set a state record with his 365-pound bench press and reached a dead lift of 565 pounds at the State Powerlifting Meet at Central Hardin High School.
McReynolds, who competes in the 185-pound division, also owns bench press records in the 175 and 185-pound weight class from participation in the Spencer County Powerlifting Meet from 2008 and 2009 respectively.
This weekend, McReynolds will compete with Louisville Trinity High School as representatives of Kentucky and will have to adjust to some different rules.
At nationals, lifters will perform conventional dead lifts as
opposed to straddle technique. Also, McReynolds must utilize a pause bench press instead of a touch and go. Additionally, McReynolds will round out the competition with squats.
During the state meet, McReynolds said 300 or 400 people were on hand to watch the competitors, but he expects at least twice as many in Oklahoma City.
“The crowd gets you hyped,” he said. “It used to make me nervous my first year I did it, my sophomore year, but then it motivates you. They’re cheering for you to get your weight.”
In addition to lifting three days a week, McReynolds has also had to keep an eye on his eating habits in order to maintain his weight class.
“I have to weigh 181,” he said. “I was 187 when they told me, so I lost six pounds. I just can’t eat like I could before this. I have to watch what I eat, drink a lot of water and I’ve been running.”
The NASA Championships will be McReynolds first national event and although he said he admits he doesn’t know what to expect, he hopes there are people in the crowd who will be impressed and possibly tender him offers such as endorsements or fitness modeling jobs.
“It could be, you never know if somebody is watching.” McReynolds said with a laugh. “I don’t know, I just hope I bring home some gold.”
No matter the outcome, McReynolds doesn’t appear to be harboring any thoughts of retiring from the sport upon his high school graduation.
“I want to keep it going,” he said. “I don’t ever want to quit lifting weights. It’s like my life, so I can’t really quit it. I’m going to try and stick with it.”
On March 14, McReynolds set a state record with his 365-pound bench press and reached a dead lift of 565 pounds at the State Powerlifting Meet at Central Hardin High School.
McReynolds, who competes in the 185-pound division, also owns bench press records in the 175 and 185-pound weight class from participation in the Spencer County Powerlifting Meet from 2008 and 2009 respectively.
This weekend, McReynolds will compete with Louisville Trinity High School as representatives of Kentucky and will have to adjust to some different rules.
At nationals, lifters will perform conventional dead lifts as
opposed to straddle technique. Also, McReynolds must utilize a pause bench press instead of a touch and go. Additionally, McReynolds will round out the competition with squats.
During the state meet, McReynolds said 300 or 400 people were on hand to watch the competitors, but he expects at least twice as many in Oklahoma City.
“The crowd gets you hyped,” he said. “It used to make me nervous my first year I did it, my sophomore year, but then it motivates you. They’re cheering for you to get your weight.”
In addition to lifting three days a week, McReynolds has also had to keep an eye on his eating habits in order to maintain his weight class.
“I have to weigh 181,” he said. “I was 187 when they told me, so I lost six pounds. I just can’t eat like I could before this. I have to watch what I eat, drink a lot of water and I’ve been running.”
The NASA Championships will be McReynolds first national event and although he said he admits he doesn’t know what to expect, he hopes there are people in the crowd who will be impressed and possibly tender him offers such as endorsements or fitness modeling jobs.
“It could be, you never know if somebody is watching.” McReynolds said with a laugh. “I don’t know, I just hope I bring home some gold.”
No matter the outcome, McReynolds doesn’t appear to be harboring any thoughts of retiring from the sport upon his high school graduation.
“I want to keep it going,” he said. “I don’t ever want to quit lifting weights. It’s like my life, so I can’t really quit it. I’m going to try and stick with it.”
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