Long hours in the weight room and tough diets to meet. Keeping up with a weight class and shedding any weight necessary. Tight wrapping, heavy weights, and sore bodies are what powerlifters are used to. State qualifiers Dillon Brown, Nolan Newville and Ray Cortez, seniors, experienced the struggles and rewarding moments of powerlifting.

“Lift heavy, and win the (state champion) ring,” Brown said when referring to his ambition to win.

As a team, Decatur placed second at the state meet. Brown placed first, Newville third and Cortez seventh. Brown broke two state records: one for squat, and one for overall.

“I have been stressing all year if someone stronger came, but once I found out I had won regionals and I was qualified for state, I was so thrilled,” Cortez said.

Though each lifter earns an individual score, their points add up for the team’s total. Just like any other sport, the athletes must perform well as a team and motivate each other.

“It takes someone who is dedicated to the team and who is willing to work as hard as they possibly can for yourself and the team,” Newville said.

Weight is important. To meet each weight class, all of the lifters need to eat, drink and work out a certain way to prepare for meets.

“I’ll eat Subway, grilled chicken or pork and veggies, just healthy foods like that,” Brown said.

Eating healthy worked well for the team, and helps make them stronger and accomplish personal goals.

“I have other guys in my weight class that are working hard if not harder then I am, so that drives me to work as hard as I can,” Newville said.

Dedication, practice and time. Brown took hours out of his personal life to work at what he wanted to accomplish. At state, his winning lifts were: 460 in squat, 230 in bench and 440 in dead lift. Newville’s final lifts were 400 on squat, 230 on bench and 390 on dead lift. Cortez’s lifts were 630 on squat, 410 on bench and 585 on dead lift.

“I spend hours in the weight room, eat healthy and run a little,” Brown said.

Brown has qualified for state three years in a row. His sophomore year he won second, junior year he won first. Mar. 21 Brown took home the title again and achieved his goal of winning state back to back.

“Words can’t describe the feeling, but I know it was mission accomplished,” Brown said.

Each boy has marked a spot in Decatur powerlifting history. Coach Mynarcik aided the boys with tight wrapping and great advice. He spotted when lifting and has watched the boys grow and improve throughout their high school powerlifting careers.

“It’s going to be sad since they are not coming back next year; we are going to have to rebuild,” Mynarcik said.

Dedication all four years, hard work and tough diets paid off for Brown, Newville and Cortez.

“They wouldn’t have been where they are at if they weren’t at practice every day,” Mynarcik said.