A picture can speak volumes, but there are moments in coaching that go beyond words. Over the past few days, I’ve experienced a series of events that will stay with me forever, and it all started with a local meet.

This local event, organized by Total Performance Sports in collaboration with the Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate, was more than just a competition. It was a weekend filled with hard work—helping set up, tearing down, and of course, coaching. I had one athlete competing: Danielle, who marked her one-year anniversary in powerlifting. When she first started, I had been coaching powerlifters for less than a year myself.

Back then, I wasn’t particularly strong. While my lifts have improved significantly, I still have a long way to go. But Danielle put her trust in me, and together, we grew. My background in strength training and my graduate degree gave me the knowledge of the science behind getting stronger, but I knew I had more to learn. Danielle played a huge role in making me a better coach before she even began training with me.

I started training more seriously, working with Murph, the owner of TPS. Murph taught me how to help others get strong. He was the mentor I needed, and his guidance shaped the way I approach training my athletes. To further refine my approach, I sought out Boris Sheiko’s programs, learning how to apply the scientific principles I knew into the world of powerlifting. Sheiko’s approach taught me the mental toughness required for this sport and how to structure my athletes’ programs, including their volume, intensity, and peaking cycles.

When Danielle first began, her lifts were modest: a 210lb squat, a 275lb deadlift, and no prior experience with the bench press. Now, after a year of hard work, her best meet lifts are a 320lb squat, 180lb bench, and 380lb deadlift, with a total of 880lbs—nearly qualifying as elite. She’s gone 26-for-27 in competition, with the only miss being her third attempt bench at her second meet. This progress wasn’t achieved without sacrifice. Danielle battled a pec injury, had to juggle the pressures of grad school, and dealt with personal loss. Despite this, she showed up to train day in and day out, reminding me that achieving elite status requires sacrifices and mental resilience.

A few weeks out from competition, things weren’t going well. Danielle was feeling discouraged, but I kept reassuring her to trust the taper. Despite setbacks, she put in the work, and when competition day arrived, she faced her nerves head-on. She went 9-for-9 and hit a personal record in all three lifts, improving her total by 45lbs. Her performance placed her third in her weight class in the Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate. The way she fought through a tough third squat attempt and ground out a heavy deadlift left me fired up—it was one of those moments where all I wanted to do was grab a barbell and lift myself.

A few days after her meet, I flew to Atlanta to coach Ashley at the USAPL Raw Nationals. Ashley, a former front desk employee at TPS, moved to Vegas and reached out to me about writing her training programs. Ashley had a strong background in weightlifting and strongwoman, and she wanted to see what she could achieve in powerlifting. She is a strong athlete, but our challenge was designing a program that made her even stronger while also managing her other training for weightlifting and strongwoman. Many people believe it’s impossible to excel in multiple sports, but I was confident that with the right approach, Ashley could do it.

I reviewed her recent training, focusing on her volume, intensity, and how her weightlifting was integrated with her powerlifting work. With John Broz handling her weightlifting, and me focusing on powerlifting, we were able to find a balance. Her weightlifting served as a supplement to her powerlifting, helping with mobility and explosiveness, while the strongwoman work built her mental toughness.

After a few months of preparation, Ashley qualified for nationals and earned a primetime spot, competing against the top lifters in her weight class. The nerves were high, but she was ready. She weighed in perfectly and hit an impressive 298lb squat for a 23lb personal best. Then, she nailed a 193lb bench for a 6lb meet PR. Everything was going smoothly—until deadlifts.

Deadlifting is Ashley’s strongest lift, but she experienced some hiccups during her attempts. Her opening lift of 374lbs was easy for her, but she missed the down command due to a slip in her grip. We weren’t worried, but when she attempted the lift again, two red lights were called for a soft knee. The frustration was clear, and I could see Ashley was battling emotions. In those moments, it’s my job to help her regain composure and focus.

I reminded her to adjust her technique, stand tall, and lock out her knees. It’s not easy to make a correction in the middle of a competition, especially with so much at stake. Standing alongside powerlifting legends like Chad Wesley Smith and Steve Goggins, I could feel the pressure. But I had complete faith in Ashley’s mental toughness. She made the adjustment, nailed the lift, and finished with three white lights. It was a huge relief, and seeing her go from the brink of a bomb-out to finishing as the 5th strongest in her weight class was inspiring. That moment, captured in the picture above, reflected all of the emotion from the day. Ashley and I both shed tears, overwhelmed by the journey we had been on together.

By the end of the day, Ashley had set new personal records in the squat, bench, and total. She placed 5th in the nation and earned a spot at the Arnold Classic. Despite the ups and downs, this was an incredible success. Afterward, I took a moment for myself to reflect on the experience. I was proud of Ashley, proud of Danielle, and grateful for the lessons they taught me.

These athletes, through their hard work, perseverance, and mental toughness, inspire me every day. They push me to be a better coach, a better lifter, and a better person. Their successes are not just a reflection of their strength, but a testament to the power of trust, sacrifice, and growth. They make me better, and for that, I am forever thankful.