Iron Roots Powerlifting

05/31/2026

05/30/2026

Fun fact!

I train all ages, and not just powerlifting. I also train in general fitness!

04/26/2026

Powerlifting is more than just lifting heavy weights—it builds the foundation for success in almost every high school sport.

Stronger athletes are faster, more explosive, and more resilient. Whether it’s football, wrestling, volleyball, softball, basketball, track, or baseball, powerlifting helps improve speed, power, balance, coordination, and overall confidence.

Learning proper squat, bench, and deadlift technique teaches discipline, body control, and mental toughness that carries over both on and off the field.

Powerlifting also helps reduce injury risk by strengthening muscles, joints, and movement patterns that athletes rely on every day.

The goal isn’t just to lift more—it’s to perform better, stay healthier, and become a stronger athlete in every aspect of competition.

Strength is never a weakness.

04/25/2026

Today is a full day!
We started the day coaching a cold, misty soccer game. Then I headed directly to Rochester for the USPC American Muscle Powerlifting meet. Makes my heart happy.

04/09/2026

My client hit a huge PR today!!! Such a confidence boost for her. I am beyond proud of her growth and her finding confidence in herself.

03/01/2026

I am beyond proud of these lifters. I couldn't be there in person, but I was there in spirit.
They crushed it. I can't wait to see where they go from here.

02/23/2026

02/22/2026

This post is going to be long, but it's so important.

High-school spotting standards has been a huge area of concern for me since 2020 (my first experience with HS PL)

At the high-school meet yesterday, I side spotted a lifter, I got into my usual spot stance (the stace referenced in this video) which is different than the stance most of the high school athletes are taught.
Lifter failed their lift, do you know what happened? Nothing because the bar couldn't slip through my fingers, it couldn't escape my grip. I didn't put the entire weight of the lift on the back spotter, because I was in the proper stance to catch that weight without risk to myself, the lifter, or other spotters.

When I returned to my lifter waiting for his turn, he informed me that some kids from another school were making fun of how I was spotting.

I am not bothered that high-school kids are making fun of me, I am old and pretty intense at times.
What bothers me about the situation is that those kids came from a school with a huge program, that's been doing it for years. These kids haven't been taught to properly spot or recognize a proper spot. They honestly felt that I was doing it incorrectly.

The amount of potential injuries, missed catches, missed racks that I have seen from sloppy spotting is terrifying.

Anyone that truly knows me in the PL world knows that spotting and loading is my favorite part of a meet to work. As much as I love being a National Ref, I love an amazing front row seat to the epic lifts that I am privileged enough to watch. I've spotted several 800+lbs squats.
I've been fortunate enough to have other amazing spotters with me on the platforms, I can't recall a single lift we've missed or dropped. It's a collective team effort.

We need to teach safety better. Lifting heavy is great, but not if you're injured.

I'm getting off my soap box now.

(I do not back spot by grabbing the chest like this video says, you scoop under their armpits and help them up with their shoulders, I'm not trying to catch a charge)