The Eufaula Ironheads power-lifting team had great success at the Area powerlifting meet in Hartshorne. Blayden Neill led the Ironheads who placed third as a team qualifying six athletes to compete at the State meet to be held in El Reno.
“I’m very pleased with the effort and how they competed today. This is a great group of young men and they have that Ironhead desire to be the best and they showed that today. We finished just three points out of second place. That’s not too bad with a team consisting of one junior, two seniors and the rest being sophomores and freshmen. They competed against some really good teams today but they held their own and now we will be going to El Reno for the State meet,” Eufaula head coach Larry Newton said.
I asked Neill what does it mean to go to state?
“It’s a big honor to me and my other teammates that made it to State to represent the Ironhead Nation. Last year, I missed out on the chance. I came back from regionals my Freshman year and started working hard. I’ve wanted this opportunity since last year. I had 365 days to prove I could get there.
This year at Regionals, I was setting in 3rd place after the 2nd event (bench press) at Regionals heading into the final event (dead-lifts)- I was feeling pretty confident, but then every single guy in my weight class (41 in the 220 lbs) started lifting crazy amount of weights. It came right down to the last lift and I set my max dead-lift at 15 lbs more than I had ever lifted. I knew if I didn’t truly max out, I didn’t stand a chance on making it to State. My last lift, I lifted 440 lbs on my deadlift. It wasn’t until the top 5 names went bold and mine was on there- that I realized I had made it. I had achieved my goal, but now I have a new goal- to place at State,” Neill said.
What kind of impact did Coach Newton have on him?
“He was very much a big reason why I’m heading to State. When he would ask if I am going to get my lift today, I would say “I’m going to try” and he would come back with “No, you’re going to get it, no trying about it”. He was always on me and pushed me to do my very best and always has.
There were days I didn’t feel like hitting the weights, but Coach didn’t let me slack. He would have a ridiculous workout planned and we would just get to it,” Neill added.
“Blayden actually decided not to try to drop weight for regionals and lift at a heavier weight. He had been at 198 pounds and if he lifted in that class he would have placed second overall,” Newton said.
What kind of work ethic and influence from football played a part in his training for Power-lifting?
“The hard work and being pushed to my limit on the football field helped to contribute to the discipline in the weight room that was required to earn a spot at State. You learn true grit on the Ironhead football field,” Neill said.
Other qualifying Ironheads were as follows;
Name and Weight Class Duke Dunn 145 4th place Bryan Lynn 168 3rd place Peter Lee 181 4th place Keltyn Lane 181 6th place Blayden Neill 220 5th place Rashon Watts HWT 7th place
