< Homecoming Weekend 2012
February 3, 2012
By: Audrey Fain, Co-Editor
He competed in Chicago at the Junior National Championships last weekend and he was kind enough to share how he fared with The DusterToday:
Duster: What's your major at LCU?
Hunter: I'm a Middle School Math Education Major. I also plan on being a coach when I become a teacher, but we'll see what God has planned for me.
Duster: How long have you been involved in weightlifting?
Hunter: I've been lifting weights in general for about seven years now- I first got interested in it to get stronger for football and other sports during junior high and high school. I competed primarily in powerlifting in high school, but also did a few Olympic lifting meets in the spring of 2008 before I stopped competing and got focused completely on football. I got back into Olympic Weightlifting after I graduated High School, and have been training specifically for it for about the past year and a half.
Duster: How did you get the opportunity to compete in the Junior National Championships?
Hunter: The way it works is that there is a "minumum qualifying total" you have to lift in a competition to qualify for the National level meets. I've been competing when there are meets close by, and last June managed to lift the exact total that wound up qualifying me for both Junior and University Nationals.
Duster: What is your weight class?
Hunter: I was originally in the 77 kilogram (169 pounds) weight class, but dropped to the 69kg (152 lbs) in the weeks leading up to Junior Nationals because it gave me a much better chance at competing for a medal. I plan on staying in the 69's for a few meets and see how I compete at this lighter bodyweight.
Duster: What was it like in Chicago?
Hunter: VERY COLD! It stayed at freezing or below the whole weekend we were there, this was also coupled with a fairly strong wind the entire time. On top of that there was also a light snow, so we didn't have a chance to sight-see, but it was stilll a fun time. Because of the cold and the snow, we stayed inside the hotel most of the weekend and watched the other weight classes in the competition. I also have to say that the majority of the people there just aren't as friendly as they are here in Texas!
Duster: How did you do?
Hunter: In Olympic weightlifting you compete in the Snatch (lift the bar from the ground to overhead in one motion), and in the Clean and Jerk (from the ground to your shoulders, pause to catch breath if needed, and then overhead). My best Snatch was 91kg (200lbs) and my best Clean and Jerk was 105kg (231lbs). Overall it was a pretty good meet for me, especially considering I dropped about 15 pounds going into it! I got 7th place in my weight class, and had I made my last attempts would've ended up in 3rd place. Everyone from 3rd place down had a chance to medal on their last lift, so it was very close. I wasn't disappointed at all ... my goal was to compete as best as I could and to glorify God as best as I could with my time on the platform, and I feel like that's what I did!
Duster: What's the maximum you can lift?
Hunter: My all-time bests are a 97kg (214lb) Snatch and a 115kg (253lb) Clean and Jerk. Recently I've also Front Squatted over 300lbs and Back Squatted in the mid to high 300lb range.
Duster: Is this your first time to compete in the Junior Nationals?
Hunter: Yes, in 2008 I competed at "Schoolage" (17 and under age group - I was 16 at the time) Nationals in Orlando, Florida, but this was my first time to compete at the Junior National meet. This is also my last year in the Junior age division, and next year I'll be competing in the Senior men's division (all ages) so the focus now will be to qualify for the bigger national meets- Senior Nationals and the American Open.
Duster: Was it intimidating?
Hunter: Honestly, it was a little bit! I think I was the only lifter there without a coach, so I had to warm up myself, figure out how much time I had until my next lift and other fairly stressful aspects of competition that an experienced coach can really help out with. I had trained very hard going into the meet, and knew that I was capable of handling myself, so I just kept praying for relaxed nerves and to lift to the best of my ability. I always recited a Bible verse to myself ("In quietness and confidence shall be your strength") before approaching the bar, and that just reminds me that all the work is put in, and it all becomes about being confident in that work- after that the nerves normally go away and it's all about executing what I had been doing during training prior to competing!
Duster: What's your favorite aspect of competing?
Hunter: That's tough! I really love pushing myself and showing what God has blessed me with, that's probably the best part. It's also fun to watch some of the other lifters that are putting up very impressive lifts. I've seen guys and girls at different meets anywhere from seven years old to well into their 70's that lift and have a great time doing it. The most important thing is to compete with yourself and become better!
Duster: How would you describe the experience at the Junior Olympics in one word?
Hunter: Blessed.
The DusterToday wishes Hunter a well deserved congratulations and best wishes for the future!
February 3, 2012
By: Audrey Fain, Co-Editor
Henzler Fares Well at Junior National Championships
Hunter Henzler, a junior at Lubbock Christian University from Slaton, is one of the top weightlifters in the United States in his classification.
Hunter Henzler competes in the Junior Nationals in Chicago.
Duster: What's your major at LCU?
Hunter: I'm a Middle School Math Education Major. I also plan on being a coach when I become a teacher, but we'll see what God has planned for me.
Duster: How long have you been involved in weightlifting?
Hunter: I've been lifting weights in general for about seven years now- I first got interested in it to get stronger for football and other sports during junior high and high school. I competed primarily in powerlifting in high school, but also did a few Olympic lifting meets in the spring of 2008 before I stopped competing and got focused completely on football. I got back into Olympic Weightlifting after I graduated High School, and have been training specifically for it for about the past year and a half.
Duster: How did you get the opportunity to compete in the Junior National Championships?
Hunter: The way it works is that there is a "minumum qualifying total" you have to lift in a competition to qualify for the National level meets. I've been competing when there are meets close by, and last June managed to lift the exact total that wound up qualifying me for both Junior and University Nationals.
Duster: What is your weight class?
Hunter: I was originally in the 77 kilogram (169 pounds) weight class, but dropped to the 69kg (152 lbs) in the weeks leading up to Junior Nationals because it gave me a much better chance at competing for a medal. I plan on staying in the 69's for a few meets and see how I compete at this lighter bodyweight.
Duster: What was it like in Chicago?
Hunter: VERY COLD! It stayed at freezing or below the whole weekend we were there, this was also coupled with a fairly strong wind the entire time. On top of that there was also a light snow, so we didn't have a chance to sight-see, but it was stilll a fun time. Because of the cold and the snow, we stayed inside the hotel most of the weekend and watched the other weight classes in the competition. I also have to say that the majority of the people there just aren't as friendly as they are here in Texas!
Duster: How did you do?
Hunter: In Olympic weightlifting you compete in the Snatch (lift the bar from the ground to overhead in one motion), and in the Clean and Jerk (from the ground to your shoulders, pause to catch breath if needed, and then overhead). My best Snatch was 91kg (200lbs) and my best Clean and Jerk was 105kg (231lbs). Overall it was a pretty good meet for me, especially considering I dropped about 15 pounds going into it! I got 7th place in my weight class, and had I made my last attempts would've ended up in 3rd place. Everyone from 3rd place down had a chance to medal on their last lift, so it was very close. I wasn't disappointed at all ... my goal was to compete as best as I could and to glorify God as best as I could with my time on the platform, and I feel like that's what I did!
Duster: What's the maximum you can lift?
Hunter: My all-time bests are a 97kg (214lb) Snatch and a 115kg (253lb) Clean and Jerk. Recently I've also Front Squatted over 300lbs and Back Squatted in the mid to high 300lb range.
Duster: Is this your first time to compete in the Junior Nationals?
Hunter: Yes, in 2008 I competed at "Schoolage" (17 and under age group - I was 16 at the time) Nationals in Orlando, Florida, but this was my first time to compete at the Junior National meet. This is also my last year in the Junior age division, and next year I'll be competing in the Senior men's division (all ages) so the focus now will be to qualify for the bigger national meets- Senior Nationals and the American Open.
Duster: Was it intimidating?
Hunter: Honestly, it was a little bit! I think I was the only lifter there without a coach, so I had to warm up myself, figure out how much time I had until my next lift and other fairly stressful aspects of competition that an experienced coach can really help out with. I had trained very hard going into the meet, and knew that I was capable of handling myself, so I just kept praying for relaxed nerves and to lift to the best of my ability. I always recited a Bible verse to myself ("In quietness and confidence shall be your strength") before approaching the bar, and that just reminds me that all the work is put in, and it all becomes about being confident in that work- after that the nerves normally go away and it's all about executing what I had been doing during training prior to competing!
Duster: What's your favorite aspect of competing?
Hunter: That's tough! I really love pushing myself and showing what God has blessed me with, that's probably the best part. It's also fun to watch some of the other lifters that are putting up very impressive lifts. I've seen guys and girls at different meets anywhere from seven years old to well into their 70's that lift and have a great time doing it. The most important thing is to compete with yourself and become better!
Duster: How would you describe the experience at the Junior Olympics in one word?
Hunter: Blessed.
The DusterToday wishes Hunter a well deserved congratulations and best wishes for the future!
