Springfield College Powerlifting

(Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Buried deep under the new field house is a room many people have never experienced.  One would go past the track, down the stairs, and through the heavy maroon doors.  Through those doors is a hallway that appears as if it could go on forever.  A hint of music floats from open doors that look like you would need a taxi ride to reach them on the end of the hallway.  Moving closer to the doors, past the life size images of All-Americans Chris Sharp and Jane Kelleher that are mounted on the wall on the right side of the hallway, the music grows louder, and is accompanied by more clatter of noise.

The grunting voices coupled with the clanging of weights are the first indication of what is going on through the doors.  Once through the doors a group appears, covered in sweat and red in the face.  They likely won’t notice anyone who walks in joining them after the long trip to what is the varsity weight room.  Only, Monday through Friday from 7:30-9:15, and twice on Tuesday and Thursday this one particular group isn’t in there hitting the gym for off-season workouts.

This group is recognized on campus the same way ice hockey, rowing, and skiing are-as a club sport.  The Powerlifting club though receives at least one special perk that other club teams do not.  “We are the only club sport allowed to work out in {the varsity weight room},” said club president and founder, grad student Dan Jaffe.

He originally formed the idea of bringing a powerlifting club to the SC campus with sophomore Eric Discko, who serves as the club’s vice president.  “The personal satisfaction of getting the club together, then garnering a following as we have over the past three semesters makes me ecstatic,” said Jaffe.  “I can only imagine the potential a team like this has on a campus such as this. I said to the team at our first lift, we will become national competitors, and do our best to give schools like LSU and Texas A&M a run for their money.  We’ve got the athletes (at Springfield) do it.”

             The club has already started to take steps towards achieving some of that potentially that Jaffe is talking about.  This past November a dozen lifters trekked across the state to the ACS Fitness Center in Abington, Mass to compete in a state powerlifting competition.  The team finished 2^nd overall and had 11 competitors bring medals back to Alden Street. Additionally, the team had three of it’s lifters win state titles at the event.  Allison Bradshaw, Evan Gross, and Mark Bruno each laid claim to a state crown.

            The club plans to continue to grow and compete.  Several it’s members will be competing in an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) event next weekend in Scituate, Mass.  Three members of the team have also qualified for AAU Nationals in Smithfield, RI on April 21^st

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