Ryan Mitchell, junior, was pushing to lift 510 lbs, breaking the school record for back squatting.

“It was a little bit of a blur,” Mitchell said. “I had people behind me screaming while I was doing it, and it’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

After the rep was finished, Mitchell had done it. He had set a new record for the back squat lift during max week through the Strength Training classes.

The following day, Mitchell said he was offered a scholarship to play football at the Air Force Academy football team.

“I don’t know if my record breaking was what necessarily prompted it, but it was really cool to see how they recognized my efforts in pushing over the edge,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell plays for the football team and he said that performing in strength training throughout his high school experience has brought him closer to his teammates.

As he has worked to max out his lifting during these last two weeks of school, Mitchell described how the coaches have helped him achieve his goals in lifting.

“The coaches have done a very good job preparing us for strength training, especially since they know all of the science behind it,” Mitchell said. “Throughout max week we are building strength and then we get to work with the coaches and see what we have improved on.”

Michael Stewart, physical education instructor, teaches advanced strength training as well as overseeing off-season strengthening and conditioning for athletes. Stewart said Advanced Strength Training functions on 12-week cycles throughout the semester. This week is the culmination of what students have been able to achieve over that time period.

“We test in three olympic lifts: bench press, back squat and hang clean,” Stewart said. “There’s kids that have been in strength training for four years, and we get to see where they are by their senior year.”

There’s been many students who have become interested in lifting and found success, Stewart said. 

Stewart said he thinks the Weight Room “gets a bad rap” because football training is often in there but he wants it to be a place for anyone who wants to better themselves.

“Regardless of if you’re in athletics or not, it can teach you a lot of lifelong skills,” Stewart said. “How to manage adversity, how to push yourself through days that you’re sore and how to work towards a goal that you’ve set for yourself.”

Kendall Creech, sophomore, said Advanced Strength Training is a supportive and motivating environment.

“Every week, you have to push yourself,” Creech said. “The coaches help with that, and the people in the class help me as well to keep getting better.”

Creech said she attempted a personal record on Wednesday but was not able to achieve it. She plans to achieve this goal next week.

“It’s a really fun class and nice to have in the mornings to get a good workout in,” Creech said.

Mia Altamirano, senior, said she broke MHS’ girls squatting record by accident in Advanced Strength Training.

“I thought I loaded on 245 lbs, but it was actually 265 lbs,” Altamirano said. “I ended up hitting 265 lbs, and I was really happy because that was 30 lbs over my old personal record.”

Altamirano said she started lifting her freshman year by going to after school football weight room sessions with some of her cheer teammates.

“Stewart was leading it, and he did such a great job of letting us girls learn, coaching me through all my lifts,” Altamirano said. “Every strength training class, he and Malloy would help me out, give me tips, push me, and spot me anytime I needed it. I owe it all to them.”

Altamirano said she knows some girls avoid strength training classes because they don’t want to get “bulky,” but that’s not necessarily what will happen.

“I’ve been working at it for four years, and I’m just kinda sad it’s over because I won’t be able to hit another personal record for the record board,” Altamirano said.