Back in 2020, Spartanburg High School built one of the finest high school weight training facilities in the state. That weight room, along with the motivation from strength coaches Dr. Andrew Caldwell and Bryson Payne, has led nine of SHS’s weightlifting competitors to qualify for the State Weightlifting Meet. Any student who takes a weightlifting class could qualify to compete on the weightlifting team. The coaches select top athletes based on their performance in class and their commitment to training.
Camden Steed (11) has been weightlifting throughout his entire high school career. He enjoys competitions, and his favorite event is the bench press.
“I’ve been weightlifting for about four years. My favorite thing about weightlifting is hitting a new max,” Steed said. “Competing consists of simply trying to lift more than the other people in the group, which can motivate you to lift more due to the competition.”
Weightlifting competition events consist of the bench press, squat and standing broad jump.
This past month, on Feb. 18, Spartanburg High School hosted the Region 5A Strength Meet, with Caldwell serving as the region director. Over 150 competitors came out to compete.
Caldwell, the speed and strength coach at Spartanburg High School, has been involved in weightlifting either as a lifter or as a coach for over 35 years.
“We take teams to a variety of weightlifting competitions. One of the main competitions our kids compete in is organized by the South Carolina High School Strength Coaches Association (SCHSSCA). I’ve been involved with this association for over 20 years,” Caldwell said.
The following student-athletes placed during the Region Strength Meet. First, through third-place varsity competitors, and first and second-place junior varsity competitors qualified for the State Weightlifting Meet, which will take place at Lexington High School on March 22.
- Varsity: Kendrion Keenon and Cam Smith finished first place; Trenton Lynch and BJ Carson finished second place; Chance McCree finished third place.
- Junior Varsity: Devin Purdy and Jaylen Mathis finished first place; Richard Walker and Henry Blanton finished second place; Philip Miller and Isaiah Velez finished third place.
Devin Purdy (10) has been in the weightlifting class for two years and enjoys competitions.
“My favorite event is the broad jump, and my favorite thing about weightlifting is the process and seeing yourself progress over time,” Purdy said.
The women’s and men’s lifting teams are split between the fall and spring, with females lifting in the fall and males in the spring. Spartanburg High School had 32 women compete in the SCHSSCA Female Strength Meet.
Ameeliyah Geter (12) is the most experienced competitor. She was named the all-time strongest female competitor and is a three-time medalist. Last fall, she broke all of her records with a 735-lb total, 235-lb bench press, and 500-lb squat.
“I’ve been on the weightlifting team since freshman year, and my favorite event in weightlifting is the squat,” Geter said.
Last fall, Kaylee Nelson (10) also finished first with a 170-lb bench press and a 295-lb squat, which is a state record. Kam Sainvil (12) placed third and Riley Vaughn (10) finished fourth. In the JV division, Elizabeth Hewitt (10) and Harmoni Harris (9) finished first, Ja’Nyla Montgomery (10) finished second, Timea Berry (9), Kate Linder (9) and Katara Harris (10) finished third and NyNy Posey (9) finished fourth.
