Pride is a word usually associated with weight training.
That adjective fits in well with what Apalachee High School football coach Shane Davis preaches to his football players during their weight training sessions.
For the last two years, the AHS weight lifting team has won the area championship. In addition, the program has won two of the last three state titles. The year it didn’t win first, AHS took second.
It all comes down to pride as Davis will quickly tell you.
Now, the AHS strength team is set for this year’s challenge as the area meet is set for Saturday at Rockdale County High School. Weigh-ins are set to begin at 8 a.m. with lifting set for 9 a.m.
“We are looking forward to competing,” Davis said. “Luckily, we have had success with this. We have pride with it. Pound per pound, we want to be the strongest team in the region. Our kids have noticed over the last couple of years on Friday nights they are able to hold their own against opponents who are even larger. It all goes back to having pride and confidence.”
The weight lifting competition is divided into 10 weight classes beginning at 140 and below and going up to 246 and above.
Athletes get three lifts each in the bench, squat and power clench. The top three athletes from each event will move on to state.
The weight lifting competition is an all-classification event.
Davis said he expects Heritage, Eastside and Clarke Central to have strong teams this year.
