By Brody Gray
Two years ago senior middleweight Nash Keesling walked into the fitness center expecting a typical day of lifting. What he did not expect was to see his name up on the weight room’s prestigious record board.
“I saw my name on the record board, and I was like, heck yeah,” Keesling said.
He earned his spot with a 225-pound power clean and a 405-pound squat to get on the record board.
But his journey to the record board didn’t happen overnight
“Freshman year I walked in there and I saw the leaderboard and I knew, I’ll be up there one day,” Keesling said.
True to his word, he’s been lifting heavier than most students since day one.
“I think the biggest thing all the top lifters have in common is just they all come into class and do all of the lifts at the percentages they’re supposed to do,” fitness teacher Mr. Shane Conley said. “We kind of have it set up to where week to week we’re building and then maintaining and then building and then maintaining as far as their specific lifts.”
Coming into high school it was a goal of junior Kaylee Bramlett to get on the record board.
“I knew I wanted to accomplish something great,” she said. “I’ve always loved to lift, and I knew I could set a record.”
The goal became reality when Bramlett squatted 300 pounds.
“I failed 245 at first, then I jumped up to 275, and finally hit 300,” she said.
It wasn’t just physical strength that got Bramlett there. She also credited belief and support.
“I knew I could do it once Mr. Conley believed in me, and my friends too. That made a big difference,” Bramlett said
When the record breaking moment came, emotions ran high.
“There was a lot of pressure and stress around me at the time,” Bramlett recalled. “But I knew there wasn’t any negative energy. Everyone was uplifting. It truly helped me when I was gaining weight.”
When Bramlettt knew she got the lift she was filled with excitement and adrenaline.
“It was something I wanted to accomplish and it brought me a ton of joy,” Bramlett said
Now that the record is in the books, Bramlett isn’t done yet.
“I plan on setting another squat record,” she said.
“Getting on the record board was a goal of mine,” junior middleweight Cole Mynett said. “I’ve known all those people that have been through Delta, and being on that board means you’ve done something that’s pretty good.”
With a power clean of 225 pounds in middleweight, Mynett made his mark.
It wasn’t an easy road, though. It took three tries, finally landing the record during a lifting competition Mynett’s sophomore year. Hard work was the constant throughout Mynett’s journey.
“I knew that I worked hard, and eventually the numbers would pile up and I’d get there,” Mynett said.
He makes sure to get a good warmup and stretch out before his lifts. When the moment finally came to hit the record, the mindset was simple.
“Just max effort and do what I can, and hopefully it pans out.” Mynett said.
And it did. The feeling of accomplishment was instantaneous.
“I was just excited because I got a personal record and I knew my weights were going up,” Mynett said. “It showed I was working.”
Unlike some lifters who chase records, this junior’s motivation is built more around progress than accolades.
“I don’t really care about records,” Mynett said. “Just getting stronger and if it leads to records, then that’s good.”
Mynett has proven that hard work really pays off.
“I didn’t plan on getting on the record board,” junior Jillian Barr said. “It kinda just happened. I was getting stronger every day.”
At first, there wasn’t a clear goal. No rituals. No big dreams. Just effort.
“I’d show up, clear my head, and tell myself I could do it. That’s it. No good luck charms or anything. Just focus,” Barr explained
But somewhere between sets and sweat, something shifted. The numbers she was lifting started creeping closer to the ones on the board. And when she realized how close she was, confidence kicked in.
Barr has a 245-pound squat, a 25.5-inch vertical jump and a 7-foot broad jump.
“I was grateful,” Barr said. “Just being able to get my name up there…. It meant a lot.”
Of course, one record wasn’t enough. Barr has her eyes on more.
“I just keep pushing through,” Barr said. “You wake up, take it step by step. I’ve got my sights set on other records now.”
Barr believes she could’ve done better. The record board may have been the goal once but now, it’s just the beginning.
For sophomore Isaiah Wine, the motivation wasn’t just about the record board. It was a mission.
“Getting on the record board was a goal,” Wine said, “but ultimately I want to beat my older brother.”
That’s all the motivation he needed.
Wine’s personal record for squatting an impressive 450 pounds, showcasing his strength and dedication.
He isn’t one for pre-lift rituals or superstitions.
”Just get in and lift,” he said.
Still, when the day came, even he didn’t expect how fast it would happen.
“I didn’t think I was going to get on the board as early as I did,” Wine admitted. “I had originally planned on working up to it over time.”
It took him three or four solid attempts at grueling sessions where he pushed himself a little harder each time. And finally, the weights went up, the reps were clean, and his name was added to the board now 55 pounds short of beating Jennings.
“One is enough,” Wine said. Because for Wine, it wasn’t about collecting records. It was about proving something to himself, and more importantly, trying to beat his brother, Jennings.
And now everytime he walks past that board, he sees a name that means more than just numbers. It tells a story. His story.
