Germantown HS powerlifting team growing rapidly
GERMANTOWN, Wis. — 鈥淕ermantown has had a powerlifting program on and off over the years,鈥� explains Coach Scott Schubert, 鈥渂ut did not formally develop until 2015. In that year, we started with just 15 people, and it was mostly comprised of football players and one female athlete. In the following years, the team fluctuated between roughly 20 and 30 people and began to shift from primarily being football players to being a team consisting of students from all walks of life.
鈥淚n 2019, our team quickly expanded to nearly 50 athletes, and we saw a growth in our female team from 3 to 14. From 2019 to 2021, we remained around 50 athletes with 60 percent being male and 40 percent being female.
鈥淭his year we have had another rapid expansion, growing to nearly 80 athletes with 60 percent now being female and 40 percent being male. It has truly been amazing to watch this club grow into what it has become. We have focused on being a family and a place that people want to be a part of, and our growth over the years has proven that it is working.
鈥淥ur focus on being a family has truly been the foundation to our success. We all come in with different individual motivations and goals, but we come together to make sure we all grow mentally and physically.鈥�
The team has one goal every year: to improve mentally and physically. 鈥淭o do this, we know we have to stay consistent with the following things: being a family, presenting a positive attitude, attendance, effort, drive, utilizing our resources, taking criticism, executing every lift with intent and trusting the process,鈥� says Coach Schubert.
This year’s team captains are Avery Dunlap, Bella Gelhaar, Brooklyn Stroik and Nolan Walker. They are the communication lines between the team and the coaches, role models for what the expectations of the team are, and truly embrace doing what is best for the team 鈥� always. Beyond that, they are an extension of the coaching staff. They are not afraid to have difficult conversations with athletes or coaches, knowing that they need to always have the TEAM’s best interests in mind. The captains also assist with team decisions, plan team outings and, most importantly, help to maintain the foundation of what the team is built upon 鈥� family.
The team captains make it a point to make everyone feel welcome, including new members. Avery, Bella, Brooklyn and Nolan dedicate their free time and practice time to coaching, guiding and conversing with new members to show them what it takes to be successful in the sport.
鈥淓ach athlete typically has his or her own pre-lift ritual or tradition before very lift,鈥� explains Coach Schubert. 鈥淔or some, it may be listening to music that gets them pumped up, and, for others, it may be sitting with their eyes closed and visualizing the execution of the lift. As a team, we have one pre-lift ritual at meets: cheer each other on with EVERY attempt. We have become known nationally as one of the most supportive, and loud, teams in the country.
鈥淭he team celebrates with cheering, high-fives, fist bumps and/or hugs after each lift. From first attempt to last attempt, we celebrate it all.鈥�
At the time of writing, the powerlifting season is just beginning. One of the team’s goals is to build on the success of previous years. 鈥淭here can be a lot of pressure that comes with that,鈥� Coach Schubert says, 鈥渂ut we understand that having pressure is a privilege that we do not take lightly. We know that to continue the success, we have to focus on getting better mentally and physically ourselves, while supporting our teammates to do the same thing.鈥�
With the season just beginning, no records have been broken yet. However, several current and former athletes hold Wisconsin High School Powerlifting Association state records and USA Powerlifting American (national) and state records.
Avery Dunlap
American Records: Teen 2 Bench (209 lbs.), Teen 2 Bench single lift (209 lbs.); 14 USA Powerlifting State Records
Brady Flasch, 2022 graduate
WHSPA State records in squat (507 lbs.), bench (320 lbs.), deadlift (601 lbs.) and total (1,427 lbs.); 8 USA Powerlifting State Records
Bella Gelhaar
WHSPA state record bench (226 lbs.); 9 USA Powerlifting State Records
Abbey Kelley
4 USA Powerlifting State Records
Jacob Pemberton
American Records: Teen 2 Squat (628 lbs.), Teen 2 Bench (369 lbs.), Teen 2 Bench single lift (369 lbs.) Teen 2 Deadlift (518 lbs), Teen 2 Total (1,515 lbs.); 26 USA Powerlifting State Records
Brooke Stroik
2 USA Powerlifting State Records
Dawson Stroik, 2019 graduate
American Records: Teen 1 Squat (512 lbs.), Teen 1 Deadlift (501 lbs.), Teen 1 Total (1,262 lbs.), Teen 2 Squat (562 lbs.); 6 USA Powerlifting State Records
Germantown High School Powerlifting Team’s coaches are Mitchell Cowman, Sean Neils, Noah Liberski, Scott Schubert, Danny Voelkel and Mike Voelkel.
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