Savage Words: Powerlifting is everything a sport should be

Before the start of each athletic season, the different high school sports are divided up between writers at each newspaper.

That’s a typical approach. Writers can then immerse themselves in that sport and have the ability to know the team, the trends, the schedule as well as anyone outside of the players and coaches. It’s traditionally called a “beat” and thankfully for the last three years with the Journal, my beat hasn’t changed.

When the winter sports schedule was about to begin three years ago, I got the boys basketball, girls basketball and powerlifting beat.

Powerlifting. I found that one intriguing. I’d never covered a powerlifting event, and to be honest, I was obviously quite green when it came to the sport.

The sport is not sanctioned by the SDHSAA. It’s a club sport, and as club sports go, it can be a little tougher to cover because there isn’t a governing body. Stats are traditionally hard to come by, scheduling can be a fluid process, and an overall format can be tricky as club teams gingerly maneuver their way through a season.

But three years ago, when I covered my first powerlifting event, my eyes were opened to a fantastic experience. Brandon Valley began competing in powerlifting on the club level in 2009. How it took me 13 years to finally watch my first meet is a puzzler. Powerlifting is everything a sport should be.

There’s one more meet on the schedule this year, and it’s a biggie as Sioux Falls Jefferson is hosting the state meet on March 15. I encourage you to get there, if even for just a little bit. My guess is it will open your eyes as well.

Two weeks ago, six Brandon Valley girls competed in a Metro Conference meet at Sioux Falls Washington. It was the first time the Warriors had ever hosted a powerlifting event. When I spoke to Washington Activities Director Nate Malchow during the competition, his reaction was the same as mine when I first watched powerlifting in 2022.

We stood off to the side commencing in small chit-chat. It’s something we’ve done a hundred times before at football or basketball games. But this time as we talked, I noticed a grin – a literal grin – on his face as he talked to me, peering over my shoulder as he watched what was happening on the gymnasium floor.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “The best I can equate it to is Show Choir. Everybody is cheering for each other.”

He was right, and it’s something I noticed the first time I saw a powerlifting meet three years ago. Everybody does indeed cheer for each other. Everybody.

Opponents cheer on their rivals. Rival coaches cheer on members from other teams, encouraging them to make their lift. It’s a warm, fuzzy feeling when you see it. I truly don’t know if I’ve ever felt such positivity at a sporting event before.

Nate is also correct when he equates it to Show Choir. That’s another event I never thought I’d be a part of. But my daughter was in it for three years, and show choir competitors do indeed cheer their minds out for their competition.

Powerlifting has truly grown in popularity since it was introduced at Brandon Valley 16 years ago. Nearly 100 Lynx compete in the sport. It’s not sanctioned by the SDHSAA, but neither is baseball, which is a head scratcher for me. My guess is baseball will be the next sport to get that distinction from the SDHSAA, but I’d think powerlifting can’t be too far behind.

It needs some structure, just a nudge to help push it over the top. Without a governing body, scheduling can be difficult. This season, the Brandon Valley girls will compete in three meets. The boys have just two.

I’ve covered my share of football, basketball, volleyball, wrestling and track and field events over the past 30 years. I consider myself the luckiest guy on the planet to be able to watch and cover them.

Thankfully over the last three years, it’s become very clear that luck just continues to fall my way after being introduced to powerlifting.

I’ll be at Jefferson on March 15 to catch the state meet, and I look forward to that warm, fuzzy feeling again when I leave.

Here’s to hoping you can experience it too. See you there.