Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND — For all interested high school powerlifters the time to showcase your lifting skills is near. On March 18 the second annual Warrior Heavy Metal Classic powerlifting competition will be taking place at Worland High School.
In its first year the Warrior Heavy Metal Classic had 11 competitors from Worland High School and Shoshoni High School battle it out and this year meet co-director Ryan Utterback, who is also a P.E. teacher at WHS, believes there will be an increase in participation.
“Toward the end of last year and this fall kids kept asking if we were going to have another powerlifting meet. So having that enthusiasm around competing makes it much easier to hold this competition again. For our first time last year it went very well and I’m excited about this year’s competition,” said Utterback.
During his strength classes Utterback has noticed the positive improvement from his lifters that have been using the competition as a motivational tool.
“A large number of the kids I have in class have been doing very well. Last semester we had a lot of good gains. We like holding this competition as a way to show kids to work hard, reach for their goals and having this contest is an added motivation for them as well,” said Utterback.
Utterback added, “What I like about it is whether it’s your personal physique or athletic goals. You can achieve those goals by putting some effort and work into the strength training. That’s what I love about it is kids don’t have to settle with where their talent level is at. They can improve it through the training and that’s what I love about it. I feel the competition augments that motivation and gives the kids a chance to compete. Even for those kids who aren’t in any sports it gives them a chance to compete.”
Helping run the Warrior Heavy Metal Classic will be co-director Brant Knight and the National Guard, as well as members from Worland CrossFit, Chopper CrossFit and Worland Fitness to help spot or judge the lifters.
“We had a wealth of knowledge last year with the biggest goal for the kids to be safe in their lifts. Brant Knight and the National Guard are helping run the meet again,” said Utterback. “We’ll have Mark Bennett returning from the Worland Health Club, Randall Homan from Chopper CrossFit and someone from Worland CrossFit as well. We’ll have a lot of experience on the platform to help spot the kids and keep them safe. But then also know what a good clean lift is to make sure that we’re putting on a legitimate competition. So I’m really excited with all the volunteers we have and who are helping out.”
The entry deadline for the Warrior Heavy Metal Classic is March 18 at 8:30 a.m. The competition is open to grades ninth through 12th of the 2016-17 school year.