The ETSU Stoneage Weightlifting Club is on a mission to guide all of their members to competitive levels.
The Stoneage Weightlifting Club is a campus organization open to students of all skill levels. The club currently trains around 20 members, recently introducing four new lifters to their team. Founded over 10 years ago by grad program director of sports sciences Mike Stone, the club focuses on weightlifting as a sport and encourages all members to achieve their fullest potential in the competitive realm.
“The club team is not as competitive as scholarship, but we still want them [club members] to progress and become proficient in weightlifting,” said club coach Chieh-Hsin Yu. “So, we have a beginner’s program focusing more on technique, and the four new lifters are currently undergoing the program.”
Club lifters practice frequently, meeting four times a week and working in a state-of-the-art training facility. The club generally hosts two competitions a year, including the Handle Barbell Invitational in March or April and the Stoneage event, a University National Qualifier, in the middle of the fall semester.
“Our lifters, we encourage them to compete in the meets, and if they qualify at the meets or the nationals, they have a chance to compete at the national level competitions,” said head club coach Sungwon Chae. “Once they join, they’ll be competitive, regardless of their skills at the beginning.”
“At the end, we want all of our lifters to get better and better and to be able to compete at different levels,” added Yu.
Although the club is at full capacity right now, they will begin recruiting again in the spring semester, where they will invite freshmen to view a practice session to become familiar with the club before joining. Chae suggests reaching out to the club’s Instagram, @etsuweightliftingclub, with questions about joining the group.
