Nash Earwood has never been a small kid.
As large as some adult men at 13 years old, the 5-foot-9, 282-pound Columbus teenager, known as “Big Nash,” was bullied in school for being the biggest kid in his class.
“We’ve all been bullied, and it feels helpless,” Terrence Flowers, 4.0 Fitness owner, told the Ledger-Enquirer. “You’re really stuck, especially when you’re in middle school.”
When Nash started training at Flowers’ gym in Columbus to get ready for his first football season at Aaron Cohn Middle School, his discovery of powerlifting became an important outlet for his anger.
“You can do whatever you want to the weights,” Nash told the L-E. “You can put all the anger and everything that you want into the bar.”
Having coached Nash for the past 20 months, Flowers said he has seen the teenager’s confidence explode.
“I think some of those people that might have been bullying him are gonna think twice before they run up on him,” Flowers said.
Last September, Nash set Georgia powerlifting records in the squat, deadlift and total weight categories for his age group. Six months later, he broke the state bench press record for his age group too.
In June, Nash continued his stellar form at the USA Powerlifting Youth Nationals in Lombard, Illinois, smashing four American records for the 12-13-year-old age group:
- Squat 419.9 pounds
- Bench 262.3 pounds
- Deadlift 425.5 pounds
- Total weight for all three lifts 1,107.8 pounds
Heather Faas, executive director of USA Powerlifting, has been involved in the sport for 13 years. She told the L-E Nash’s numbers are “insane,” especially for someone so early in their powerlifting career.
“He’s growing dramatically in the numbers that he’s able to complete and lift successfully from his first meet,” she said. “Not only is he getting stronger, but he’s also becoming a better competitive athlete.”
To Flowers, Nash’s rapid rise in the sport is “an anomaly.”
“For a 13-year-old to get 300s, that’s insane,” Nash said. “But to get 400s and mid-400s, that’s just not supposed to be possible, but I did that, and I have proof to show that too.”
Coach-less at nationals
Nash’s trip to nationals in June had a turbulent start – literally.
He flew to Chicago with his family. As they landed, they faced heavy winds, a tornado watch and flash flood warnings.
“It was like being back here instead of being way up north.” his father, Ryan Earwood, the assistant fire chief at Fort Benning, told the L-E.
After the bumpy landing, the Earwoods decided to try a Chicago staple: deep dish pizza.
Ryan texted Flowers photos as they ate, excited to have him join them for pizza in the Windy City later that day. But moments later, Flowers called them and said his flight had been canceled because of the storms, meaning he would miss nationals the next day.
Although being without his trusted coach was not planned, Flowers’ absence did not deter Nash.
“When I found out about it, I was upset about it but also kind of like, ‘Well, we came here to do one thing, and that’s all that mattered,’” he said. “‘No matter if something changed, you still have that one goal, and nothing will stop you from getting there.’”
Big Nash sets four American records
When Nash arrived for nationals at the Westin Chicago Lombard Hotel, the competition stage was unlike anything he had seen.
Instead of having a single platform for powerlifting like state competitions, nationals had four platforms and TVs to watch all the action. When he first walked in the ballroom where the competition was to be held, Nash said, “This is insane.”
Nash said he cherished being in an environment with so many people passionate about powerlifting. Word of Nash’s prowess also traveled far: People at nationals he had never met before knew about him and his talent.
To handle the pressure, Nash said he made sure not to get lost in the big picture of breaking national records.
“Sport in general is just a big mental game,” he said. “You don’t worry about anything else besides the lift that you’re doing, not the weight, not the people in front of you.”
Flowers said ahead of nationals, he was confident Nash would set new records because of their thorough preparation, ramping up weights and practicing compliance with technical rules like making sure Nash’s feet were properly positioned for each lift and his socks did not touch his uniform.
Each time Nash broke a record, he left the stage and looked to the big screen behind him, which flashed the words: American record.
“Everybody was just yelling,” he said, “especially my sister.”
With Flowers unable to make it to Chicago, Ryan stood in as Nash’s coach, strategizing with him before each lift. Since he usually sits in the audience, being beside his son on stage afforded Ryan a new perspective as Nash made national history.
“It was a great moment,” Ryan said. “I wouldn’t give it up for anything.”
Nash FaceTimed Flowers after the competition and filled him in on the news. Flowers said he was punching air as soon as he heard about Nash’s success, and he had tears in his eyes watching Nash hug his dad in the highlight reel.
“Even though I wish I was there, I’m glad his dad was there,” Flowers said, “That’s going to be a memory that they share for the rest of life.”
How Nash breaks away from the competition
When Nash began training with Flowers 20 months ago, he knew nothing about powerlifting, but Flowers saw Nash was different.
Although he had never trained someone for powerlifting, Flowers was impressed by the weights of his initial lifts and recognized his rare will to improve.
“He’s focused,” Flowers said. “He’s driven. He really wants it. Even when I set a number or a rep range or a weight, he often goes past it.”
Flowers said the 13-year-old has the determination of a semiprofessional athlete.
Nash’s discipline continues outside the gym. He trains at home as well, kicking off each week with his own “motivational Monday” workout and resetting his routine with Sunday walks.
“Most 13-year-olds can barely make sure they get their room picked up — which he does struggle with, but that’s a different story,” Ryan said. “But he stays very focused on this because it’s something he’s very dedicated to.”
What’s next for the national record holder
When Nash has the time to rest, he doesn’t.
On Saturdays, he runs his own lawn care business. He started the business two years ago because he was bored, mowing lawns, landscaping and weeding for neighbors when they call.
“It kinda sucks during the summer cause it’s 100 degrees,” Nash said.
When he has time, Nash also welds at his grandmother’s house, works on a truck in his neighbor’s pasture and plays video games. Ryan said his son learns by doing, just like him.
“It’s actually to the point where I have to hide my tools, and I’ve started buying him tools,” Ryan said.
Nash is transferring from Aaron Cohn Middle School to Brookstone School for eighth grade. He plans to take a year off from powerlifting, focusing on wrestling and football instead and working toward playing college football.
But powerlifting, a “hobby” to Nash, remains on his mind. He hopes to compete again the year after next and qualify for international powerlifting events.
“Next year, I’ll probably come back,” he said, “cause I can’t help myself.”
Flowers calls Nash a ‘one of a generation’ talent
Flowers said Nash’s work ethic and talent in the sport is rare.
“He’s an anomaly,” Flowers said. “He’s not the average. He’s one of a generation.”
The 4.0 Fitness owner is equally proud of Nash’s ability to create a “new destiny” for himself, channeling anger issues and being bullied into determination and athletic achievement.
“It’s a marker for your life to say, ‘Hey, I overcame this,’” Flowers said. “Something he can always take with him and build.”
Faas of USA Powerlifting praised Nash’s “incredible” strength and technical ability in each lift.
“It’s pretty remarkable that not only did he just break one record but that he literally took four,” Faas said. “He swept the records across the board. It’s exceptionally rare for one athlete to be really, really great at all three lifts.”
For Ryan, seeing his son claim his medals atop the podium was his favorite moment at the competition.
“That’s something that will stay with him forever,” Ryan said. “Even if somebody breaks his records, that’s something that’s his for the rest of eternity.”
