The Maverick Powerlifting club on campus is looking to promote not only the competitive side of weight lifting, but also the health benefits of working out and staying motivated. Club president Christian Rosen believes the club is an excellent way for students to get involved in the gym scene by providing a support system for new lifters.
“The club currently consists of nearly twenty five lifters. Nearly half of us compete in competitions while a handful of newer members are still getting comfortable in the scene,” Rosen said.
The club is a great opportunity for Mavericks to get introduced to the sport of powerlifting, providing conversation with other like-minded individuals who are willing to discuss personal progress and tips. The club allows for easy time management with meetings bi-weekly on Thursdays at 5 p.m., where lifters train and discuss their feats in the gym.
“The competition side of the club is optional for all and happens all throughout the year. Nobody is required to compete. They consist of different clubs throughout the country, allowing us to travel all over,” Rosen said.
The club also offers competing opportunities for students, with several members having gone far in recent competitions.
“Last June, we traveled to Arizona and competed in nationals for MSU. One of our lifters, Becca Uecker, took first place in her weight class. Austin Chroup took third, while nearly 4-5 other lifters placed in the top 10 out of roughly 30 lifters,” Rosen said.
Rosen notes that competitions are university-based events, allowing students an opportunity to meet other competitors from all over the country.
“We are always looking for new members who are interested in the sport,” he said. “It’s a great time for everybody involved.”
The club also hosts a plethora of guest speakers spanning from powerlifting coaches and dieticians to supplement companies looking to reach motivated audiences.
“Recently, we met with supplement brand 110 Percent, the brand is pretty large in the powerlifting scene. They were here recently promoting their brand and informing lifters about the benefits of using supplements while training,” Rosen said.
As the popularity of the sport continues to overall grow, chances for competing also rise, including for Rosen.
“I am actually competing on the 25th of this month, many others are set to compete in early December. The competitions are spread out, allowing those interested some time to prepare for whenever they’d like,” Rosen said.
“Competitions run throughout the year, lifters sign up when they feel comfortable. The sport has recently seen growth at the collegiate level so the amount of competitive competition is growing all over.”
Whether you are an avid gym goer or interested in getting started, the Powerlifting Club provides students with an opportunity to grow in more ways than one. The club provides a multitude of opportunities for students to learn about their physical health while providing an opportunity to compete at the national level for those looking for some friendly competition.
Photo Caption: The Minnesota State Mavericks powerlifting club provides an opportunity for Maverick students to get engaged in their physical health and compete on a national level (Logan Schlosser).
Write to Matthew Beyer at matthew.beyer@mnsu.edu