Three years later a group of middle school students who began weightlifting at Fastest 40 in Blue Ridge are really grown up. All are playing sports and  anticipating a competitive weightlifting competition in 2013.

Mark Harrison runs the speed and strength  business located in the Food Lion Plaza at Laymantown Road. That’s in the Blue Ridge area. “These boys have worked really hard to build strength and to  increase their speed for athletic competition. Dillon Switzer a freshman dead lifts 315. He is working to be a competitive weightlifter.” Jordan Brake, Dillon Switzer, Dillon Schrader, Brandon Kibler and Logan Harrison were in the original group of Middle Schoolers.

The athletes work through a series of weight training stations. They spot for each other and are serious lifters. Schrader said, “Baseball  is my sport. The weight training has helped me.”

Brandon Kibler, the oldest of the group has since graduated from high school this past June.” Now I just work on my physique,” he said with a laugh. All agreed they have improved their speed and athleticism from being in the training  program. Brake played football on the RMMS team this past fall.

Harrison  dead lifts 290 pounds in the 9th grade. “I am working hard.” he said. He played AAU football this fall, but plans to go out next summer for the LBHS team.

Two newcomers Dylan Parker Dylan Thompson, are new middle schoolers entering the program. Both attend Read Mountain. They have the look of the stage where the older boys were years ago. In the serious world of sports, weight and strength training has its place in success.