Editor’s note: Raven Nichols is a member of the LSUNow staff and the Powerlifting team. LSUNow does not endorse the team, but wants to share one student’s story and give insight into the university’s club sports.
Powerlifting season is officially coming to an end.
It’s so crazy to think all of our hard work will be put to the test at the USA Powerlifting National competition tomorrow. Teams from all over the United States have traveled to Providence to have a shot at taking home a national title.
We have a real chance at winning it this year. I know each year the same thing is repeated, but I believe this year will be our year. USA Powerlifting has now added a raw division to the meet. The only difference between this and equip lifting is the gear. When a person is raw, they don’t have to worry about squat suits, bench shirts or deadlift suits.
The Women’s team has seven on each team- raw and equip. There’s a chance that the raw team will win a national title. However, everyone has to give their all and leave it all on the floor.
A lot of the new members are terrified. A couple of them lift tomorrow.
Fingers-crossed that everyone makes it in their weight class. We did not come all this way to walk away in disappointment.
We had to meet at the New Orleans International airport Wednesday at 3:30 a.m. Imagine trying to get 40 people to show up on time seems impossible, but somehow we managed to do it.
So here we are. Waiting to check in our luggage and head to Nationals. Of course the process of getting there takes longer than necessary. We are going to have a layover flight in Orlando, Florida and then head to Providence, Rhode Island.
You must be dying to know what 40 powerlifters do at 3:30 a.m. Take a wild guess?
Act a fool in the airport.
Not only did we have to wait 30 minutes for TSA to open, but most of us were sleep deprived. Throw a bunch of sleep deprived college students who cutting weight together and imagine what you get.
Actually, it wasn’t that bad. Well, until we landed in Orlando.
Let me back up, the flight from New Orleans to Orlando was a success. The hour long ride flew by quickly as everyone took a cat nap.
Once we landed in Orlando, it was lights out for a lot of people on the team. Our gate entrance was littered with LSU apparel and novelty items. People were using their lifting bags as a pillow, headphones in and fast asleep.
Well you may be wondering about the people who were not asleep. We actually did homework. Yes, leaving in the mist of finals preparation isn’t easy. Teachers love to give homework at the same time as others. It seems like they are plotting against us.
The flight from Orlando to Providence is about 3 ½ hours, give or take. There are so many people on the plane. The flight attendants actually thought some of the seats were double booked.
Between the on and off again turbulence and the people who keep bumping into me to use the restroom, I can’t really catch a break.
I’m currently listening to everything in my iTunes. I can’t put into words how important this meet is to me. I feel like I have to prove something to myself. My grandfather died about two weeks before my regional meet. I just got out of class when she told me he passed. He had cancer. We had just talked a few weeks prior about him making it to my meet.
But he was there. I knew he was. He promised he would be there. I was sitting down getting ready to lift and I thought I saw him. I promised him I would bring back a medal and I did.
This meet is special. I’m just not doing it for myself or my team. I’m doing it for my grandfather.
