They have the power

Barbell club gaining momentum, members

Are you a weightlifting freak? Want to work on those beach muscles for spring break? Tired of getting picked on by bigger guys? Are you just looking for something to do besides study, eat and party on the weekends?

If one or more of those questions applies, then maybe the Penn State Barbell Club is for you.

It costs $20 a semester to be in the club. Members lift three days a week -- Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays -- in the athletic weight room at Rec Hall.

"We can put together a program for you," said Kent Strohecker (sophomore-kinesiology), the club's president. "Everybody's welcome to come."

The Barbell Club has been around since the mid-1980s. It is for anyone who loves body building, power lifting or just plain weightlifting. Anyone can join, regardless of weight room experience. In fact, only two of the club's 40 members lift competitively.

"We had some bodybuilders, but they all graduated or left," Strohecker said.

That left only two power lifters, Strohecker and Colin Carpenter (junior-wildlife and fishery science), as the club's competitors.

Since the club lacks the minimum number of members, five, for a power-lifting team, Strohecker and Carpenter compete individually at competitions. They last competed in December at a competition in Bigler, where Strohecker, competing in the 181-pound weight class, took first place in the junior division (18-19 years old) and third in the open division.

Carpenter, competing at 165 pounds, also took third in the open division.

Strohecker and Carpenter will compete again April 26 at a competition in Wilkes-Barre. In fact, Carpenter will attempt to break the state dead-lift record at his weight for 18 and 19 year olds, which is currently 501 pounds.

"I pulled 490 at the end of last semester before my last contest," he said. "So I'm within 10 or 11 pounds."

But Strohecker and Carpenter are the exception in the club. Most of the members simply lift for recreational purposes.

Tim Morgan (junior-elementary education and economics), for example, has been lifting to stay in shape since his freshman year.

"There is always someone there who knows more than I do," he said.

Morgan also likes the price it costs to join the club, which is lower than getting into a gym downtown, and the fact he doesn't have to wait in a long line to lift, something that often occurs at Rec Hall.

"It's just like making an appointment to get your hair done," Morgan said, referring to the time he saves lifting in the club rather than at a public gym. "If you go to the barber shop, you'll probably have to wait."

Morgan's favorite aspect of the club, however, is seeing the same people when he lifts.

"I like to see the camaraderie," he said. "It picks you up."

Another member who lifts solely to stay in shape is Jason Sizemore (junior-elementary education). Sizemore joined the club a couple weeks ago when other members convinced him to do so. He says the experience thus far has only been positive.

"I didn't feel out of place there," Sizemore said. "I felt really comfortable."

He also said the more experienced members of the club helped him better his technique, and he thinks he already is getting stronger. Although there are only three women in the club, females are encouraged to join just as much as males.

"We don't get many girls," Strohecker said, "but we're trying to break that string."

One female member, Cora McCann (sophomore-meteorology), said she definitely benefits from being in the club.

"It makes me (lift)," she said. "I know the times that I have to go and I go . . . I just love to lift."

se beach muscles for spring break? Tired of getting picked on by bigger guys? Are you just looking for something to do besides study, eat and party on the weekends?

If one or more of those questions applies, then maybe the Penn State Barbell Club is for you.

It costs $20 a semester to be in the club. Members lift three days a week -- Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays -- in the athletic weight room at Rec Hall.

"We can put together a program for you," said Kent Strohecker (sophomore-kinesiology), the club's president. "Everybody's welcome to come."

The Barbell Club has been around since the mid-1980s. It is for anyone who loves body building, power lifting or just plain weightlifting. Anyone can join, regardless of weight room experience. In fact, only two of the club's 40 members lift competitively.

"We had some bodybuilders, but they all graduated or left," Strohecker said.

That left only two power lifters, Strohecker and Colin Carpenter (junior-wildlife and fishery science), as the club's competitors.

Since the club lacks the minimum number of members, five, for a power-lifting team, Strohecker and Carpenter compete individually at competitions. They last competed in December at a competition in Bigler, where Strohecker, competing in the 181-pound weight class, took first place in the junior division (18-19 years old) and third in the open division.

Carpenter, competing at 165 pounds, also took third in the open division.

Strohecker and Carpenter will compete again April 26 at a competition in Wilkes-Barre. In fact, Carpenter will attempt to break the state dead-lift record at his weight for 18 and 19 year olds, which is currently 501 pounds.

"I pulled 490 at the end of last semester before my last contest," he said. "So I'm within 10 or 11 pounds."

But Strohecker and Carpenter are the exception in the club. Most of the members simply lift for recreational purposes.

Tim Morgan (junior-elementary education and economics), for example, has been lifting to stay in shape since his freshman year.

"There is always someone there who knows more than I do," he said.

Morgan also likes the price it costs to join the club, which is lower than getting into a gym downtown, and the fact he doesn't have to wait in a long line to lift, something that often occurs at Rec Hall.

"It's just like making an appointment to get your hair done," Morgan said, referring to the time he saves lifting in the club rather than at a public gym. "If you go to the barber shop, you'll probably have to wait."

Morgan's favorite aspect of the club, however, is seeing the same people when he lifts.

"I like to see the camaraderie," he said. "It picks you up."

Another member who lifts solely to stay in shape is Jason Sizemore (junior-elementary education). Sizemore joined the club a couple weeks ago when other members convinced him to do so. He says the experience thus far has only been positive.

"I didn't feel out of place there," Sizemore said. "I felt really comfortable."

He also said the more experienced members of the club helped him better his technique, and he thinks he already is getting stronger. Although there are only three women in the club, females are encouraged to join just as much as males.

"We don't get many girls," Strohecker said, "but we're trying to break that string."

One female member, Cora McCann (sophomore-meteorology), said she definitely benefits from being in the club.

"It makes me (lift)," she said. "I know the times that I have to go and I go . . . I just love to lift."