The Tioga County Special Olympics powerlifting team is hard at work training inside the Fitness 365 gym in Wellsboro every Monday afternoon. In addition to providing the training facility, Fitness 365 staff also provide assistance with coaching, working alongside Special Olympics coach Wayne Yskamp preparing the team for competitions throughout the fall season.
Prior to this year, the team traveled to Williamsport to train with the Lycoming County powerlifting team. Now with a gym closer to home, participation increased three-fold.
Chris Clemens, a personal trainer at Fitness 365 and powerlifting coach for the Tioga County Special Olympics team, was pleased with progress he saw in the athletes at the Susquehanna Regional Sectionals meet at Juniata in September. Clemens said the meet was just like any other power lifting meet, where the judges pay close attention to proper lifting mechanics and are very strict with the form and depth of each lift. Despite the pressure of performing in a competition, the team did well.
“I think they did a great job,” Clemens said. “We didn’t do any squats, because there were so many new people. We focused more on bench press and deadlift.”
Patrick Gatgen, a member of the team, achieved a gold medal at sectionals and was invited to the Fall Fest meet at Villanova in November.
Clemens said, that apart from competition, the skills and strength built through powerlifting are beneficial outside the gym.
“It’s good to be able to do these things outside of here when we need to,” Clemens said. “It makes day-to-day tasks easier if we’re fit and strong and able to do this stuff without getting hurt.”
Clemens said he and the staff at Fitness 365 are grateful to be able to help the athletes get stronger and become better versions of themselves.
