by Stacie Lyans, Lumberjack staff
Weightlifting may have been thought of as a man's event a few years ago, but that stereotype is a thing of the past at HSU. "It has definitely changed a lot in the past 10 years," strength and conditioning coach Drew Peterson said. "Ten years ago it was a novelty to have women in the weight room. Now there are just as many women training as there are men." Women who lift weights not only gain similar benefits as men, they also pose more of a threat on the playing field. "As it became more acceptable for women to excel in athletics,they saw the best way to do it is to get stronger -- and to get stronger they have to lift weights," Peterson said. Peterson said the negative stereotype of women in the weight room began to break down at HSU in 1993 with the women’s basketball team. The team started doing squats, Olympic style weightlifting and plyometrics, exercises typically done by men. The difference in athletic ability was seen almost immediately by other coaches in the athletics department. Women’s athletics teams, such as volleyball, softball, soccer and crew started to take weightlifting more seriously. "A lot of stereotypes and social barriers have been broken down in the past when women had their own separate area with their Spandex and tutus," Peterson said. "Now women are on the platforms and in the squat racks."Approximately 2,000 students, faculty and athletes come to the weight room each semester and Peterson said at least half are female.
In their respective weight catagories Taiisha Pleasant, a senior and captain on the softball team, holds HSU’s top women’s record for power cleans at 250 pounds. Keleise Tupuola, a graduating senior on the volleyball team, currently holds HSU's top women’s squat record at 305 pounds. "Women may feel intimidated in the beginning, but that breaks down really quick with so many other females in the weight room," Peterson said."I think that the reverse happens with men seeing women throwing around more weight than them. Their egos get hurt."
It is known that female athletes can benefit from weightlifting in many ways. A few benefits include the reduction of injuries, increased speed and quickness, endurance, physical strength and a higher self esteem. These are all important qualities women can utilize on the playing field and in their everyday lives."Last year I wasn't really into lifting, it was more of a chore," soccer sophomore Chris Lewis said.
"This year I enjoy it and it is paying off. I am stronger now and I can send the ball futher -- it’s fun."When you train for power, you are also developing strength, speed, agility, flexibility, anaerobic endurance, balance and postural awareness," Peterson said.All of these attributes gained from the HSU Lumberjack Iron Strength and Conditioning program allows women to use power and strength in athletics.
Holly Shummard is one of the many female athletes who has excelled in weight lifting in her four years at HSU. The strength and fitness All-American holds school records in her respective weight category, with the ability to squat 305 pounds, power clean 225 pounds and bench 185 pounds. "When I started lifting I saw a huge improvement in my athletic performance," Shummard said."I can’t image not being strong; it just feels normal now." After two years experience working with Peterson in the weight room, Shummard plans to continue as a strength and conditioning coach at a high school or at a Division I university.
With women more involved in weights today, more job opportunities that were seen as "male-only jobs" a few years ago are becoming available to females. Michelle Latimer, HSU alumnus and a graduate assistant for Peterson in 1995 and 1996, has taken her love for weightlifting to the Division I level and became the strength and conditioning coach for the University of Washington. "Basically I see more results with women than men," Latimer said."Women have a greater opportunity to grow and use it toward their respective sports." Latimer received the job in July, after two years experience at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She gives a lot of credit to Peterson for making a difference in her life -- she switched majors from sociology to kinesiology -- and for encouraging her to excel to the next level. "I love my job, even if it means working 14-hour days with low pay," Latimer said.
"It is exciting to see the amount of change in people. Drew pushed me into this field knowing the difference I could make." Even though many schools across the nation are not as accepting of women pursuing a career in this field, Latimer said she has never had a problem with respect from males. "I had PAC-10 football players coming to me with questions on my first day," Latimer said.
"This change for women has gotten better over the years, especially on the West and East coast."