PHS students reflect on this motivational quote as they work out. Photo by: Elizabeth Jackson

By Elizabeth Jackson

Plymouth High School students lift weight for many reasons.

Students may lift weight to improve their self image, get stronger or because they are simply bored. Senior Ben Piazza lifts weights for a different reason. “Lifting weights builds plenty of character!” Junior Arthur Clemons lifts for a different reason. “It boosts your confidence! It also enhances your strength and agility to excel in sports.” Although lifting does help in physical ways, junior Matt Feece and sophomore Jake Dewar lift for other reasons. “The two main reasons are de-stressor and just staying in shape. During soccer season, it’s a means to get stronger and push myself to unknown limits,” said Feece. Dewar’s reason for lifting is different from that of Feece. “It not only helps your health, but it gets attention from the ladies,” said Dewar. Students may lift for different reasons, but at the end of the day they are all making improvements.

A change in one’s body, such as more muscle, is common for those who lift. Junior Cassi Quissel is already seeing improvements through weights. “My posture is improving, my form while doing weights and my life in general are all more improved than the day I first started,” said Quissel. Freshman Caleb Koss is seeing improvements within himself as well. “I see great improvement in the way I’m growing and how much of an athlete I am,” said Koss. Others who are seeing improvements look in the mirror every day to check their progress. “There is a visible difference in my muscle tone and build. Not exceptional, but that doesn’t stop me from flexing in the mirror every morning,” said Feece. There are many memorable moments students have while lifting.

Staying in shape takes strength, skill and a lot of determination. Photo by: Elizabeth Jackson

While students are working out among others, memorable moments occur to all. Junior Sal Bustamante’s memorable memories occur before every time he lifts. “Mr. Barron’s talks before we begin to lift are [definitely] memorable,” said Bustamante. Senior Briana Gantz’s favorite memory is one of her favorites. “I did weights over the summer and everyone made fun of me because I could barely bench the 45 pound bar, but now I can so I have definitely improved!” Lifting weights may get boring for some students unless they have motivation.

Many things may be the motivation for PHS students. For seniors Ryan Mareska and Gantz and junior Bustamante their motivation is the military in which they plan on pursuing later in life. Piazza’s motivation for lifting is “All of the other lifters who work incredibly hard! I want to get strong and swole, and abbreviation for “swollen,” which means I’m striving to get big muscles.” Just like Piazza, Koss’s motivation is another person. “I hate losing games, so I think of the person or team who beat me and I think lifting is a great way to improve yourself so that doesn’t happen again.” There are other forms of motivation rather than other people. For Dewar, Feece and sophomore Chance Lacher, different forms of music motivate them. Besides lifting, students do other things to stay in shape.

There are other forms of staying healthy that students do in order to stay in shape. Sophomore Quentin Gawronski, as well as Clemons, Feece, Piazza, Dewar, Quissel, senior Jeannie Spear, and Mareska all choose to eat healthy while working out. “I’ve been known to eat an avocado or two,” said Piazza.