10/17/2026
Thatâs a wrap on my competition year.
I drove alone, competed without a team, coach, or anyone there to help me, and came home with four state championships and ten state and national records.
I hit a squat PR with no real gear, full meet bench and deadlift PRs, and a total PR.
Maybe the best part was competing in a much stricter federation. Everyone was held to the same standard: the actual requirements of the lift. No gray areas. No gifts. Just integrity across the board. You had to earn it, no matter who you were. Thereâs something satisfying about going home knowing exactly what your lifts meant.
Twice this year, I competed in three meets in three months. I hit PRs at every meet.
The point wasnât perfect conditions or expecting all time PRs. It was to show newer lifters that obsessing over the perfect workout, peak, or weight class can distract you from what matters most.
Show up. Shut up. Stop worrying. Lift the damn bar.
Now Iâm taking a solid break from competing to address the weaknesses these meets exposed.
Thank you to everyone who wished me luck, online and at the gym. This has been our best year ever, and three of my teams arenât even finished yet. A full year recap is still to come.