By Jayson Henderson

Clay Center’s powerlifting team, led by coach Dalton Haist, is preparing for another competitive season. With a series of meets culminating in the state powerlifting competition in March, the team has its sights set on bringing home more medals.

“The goal for us is just to continue to bring home some medals at the state powerlifting meet in March,” Haist said.

“Last year, we brought home three individual medals and a couple of overall awards.”

Preparing for Success

Powerlifting differs from other sports due to its seasonal nature and the fact that many athletes participate in other winter sports. Despite this, Haist ensures athletes are well-prepared.

“We open the weight room every morning at 6:30,” Haist explained.

As a strength and conditioning teacher, Haist tailors training programs to maximize each athlete’s potential.

The Importance of Mental Toughness

Mental toughness is a crucial element in powerlifting. “Mental toughness is everything in any sport, in my opinion,” Haist said.

“By challenging them and making practice harder than what they would see in competition, when they get to that competition, they’ve already experienced it through practice.”

With a focus on preparation and resilience, the powerlifting team aims to build on last year’s success and achieve new milestones this season.