Lifting to the top
Photo Credit: Macie Daughenbaugh
Jake at the powerlifting meet
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Macie Daughenbaugh, Staff Writer
April 23, 2012
Filed under Sports
A power lifters main task is to lift more total weight than the opposing lifters in their weight class. Holliman’s main goal was to make it to state. This year, in order to meet his goal he had to lift an extra 25 pounds than he was use to. Holliman accomplished this through hard work and great coaching. He says “ I owe it all to my coaches.”
Holliman is easy going, and incorporates that quality in the things he wants to achieve. He went to state for power lifting about a month ago and he said it was very intense. Holliman did not know what he was walking into when he got there, but it was very nerve racking. After he graduates he is going to attend William Jewell College. His wants to be a starter on their football team and get a college degree in “whatever it may be in.” Holliman’s most valued award received is the fact that he got to be coached by great coaches and have played with his life-long friends. He also received second place medals at both Sulphr Springs and Sunnyvale meets, fourth place in the region and being apart of one of the greatest teams Heath has seen.
One of the life-long friends Holliman has made is Kevin Barron. Barron has been playing football since the seventh grade and is now a senior attending Rockwall-Heath High School where he plays football and is a member of the power lifting team, He has known Holliman since the eighth grade, but did not actually become friends with him until their sophomore year when they were on the JV football team together. Barron said Holliman was a “hard worker, funny, outgoing and also a “beast” when it comes down to the weight room.” Barron thinks Holliman is “dedicated.” Holliman knows that when the game needs him the most he has to put his team on his back. “When it comes to class work and on the field, Holliman puts 120 percent into everything,” Says Barron. Barron says Holliman has improved his strength since football has ended back in November. Barron’s favorite memory with Holliman is when they took a two-hour lunch break at work and did not get in trouble.
One of Holliman’s Coaches was Coach Napier who has been coaching for eighteen years. Napier has been at Heath High School since it first opened. Napier has known Holliman since his freshmen year. Napier said physically Holliman has changed a lot. He has always thought he was very mature for his age, so not a big change there. Napier says Holliman is definitely a leader. He was a leader for the football team and was a key leader for their offseason program. Napier explained that Jakes strength is his power of will, his mindset, “he never backs down from challenges and enjoys competition.” Napier also said that Jake’s greatest accomplishments are ahead of him and that might be the best thing about him, because “you know he wont rest on what he has done in the past. He holds the schools record in Hang-Clean: 315 pounds, Competition bench press: 360 pounds, squat:610 pounds and the deadlift:595 pounds. He works extremely hard to meet his goals, encourages others to reach theirs and does not belittle those who struggle. Coach Napier was the proudest of Jake at the Regional Power Lifting meet. Jake had to dead lift 25 more pounds than he had ever attempted to in order to go to state. He had the option of playing it safe, lifting less, getting a medal and going home. Instead he went for it knowing that if he missed he would be disqualified from the final standings. He missed his first try and instead of giving up, he never batted and eye and nailed it on his third attempt! He became our first state qualifier here at Heath High School, because he willed I to happen. It was “very impressive to witness.”
Another Coach, who coached him this year, was Coach Swinson. Coach Swinson teaches U.S History and coach’s football, as well as track. Swinson has known Jake since he was a sophomore. Swinson said Jake has changed by getting more confident and has gotten a lot bigger, of course, but in a good way. Swinson sees Jake as a leader, both vocally and by example. Swinson said he was a leader, because he encourages others to do their best. Swinson also said Jake has great determination, “I guess you could say he has a lot of fight in him.” Thought the time he has known Jake, his biggest accomplishments are qualifying for state as a power lifter after missing the first part of the season and earning the opportunity to play college football. Swinson wishes more kids were like Jake due to his mindset and goals throughout his life. If there was one thing about Jake that made Swinson proud it would be that he has always said that “one of the greatest accomplishments I can give someone is that someday I would be happy to have them coach my kids; Jake is one of those people.”
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