While weightlifting may seem like a solo sport at first glance, the Oviedo girls team shows that it is anything but. What looks like an individual activity from a distance is actually a supportive environment based on trust, encouragement, and shared goals.
Their coach Daniel Evans, a former football player and high school lifter, believes in the power of lifting and its ability to transform both body and mind. The program reflects the lessons he has learned over seventeen years of coaching.
“I think weightlifting could help in all aspects, both mentally and physically,” Evans said. “It’s a great way, if you’re having a bad day, to let out frustration.”
These benefits shine through in the lifters themselves. Senior Samantha Van Adelberg, a standout on the team, has seen how weightlifting gives you more than just muscles.
“Being on weightlifting has not only given me physical strength but also mental strength,” Van Adelberg said. “When you’re lifting a weight heavier than yourself in front of a bunch of people, you have to really trust yourself.”
Trust in themselves and their teammates pushes the girls beyond their limits and keeps the team consistent and improving. However, the weightlifting team is much more than just a fitness program; it is a close-knit, supportive community where everyone contributes to something greater than themselves. Adelberg highlights the significance of belonging.
“I believe community is very important to the team,” Adelberg said. “It’s easy to feel isolated in such an individual sport so the things we do together, like cleaning the weight room, really help bring the girls together… Having that community to celebrate your victories and personal records gives you such an amazing feeling.”
Whether sharing chalk, giving cues before a lift, or shouting encouragement during a tough attempt, the closeness within the team is clear. With this sense of community comes leadership from the upperclassmen who have spent years perfecting their techniques and adjusting to the demands of the sport.
“All of them [the seniors] have at one point or even now helped a younger athlete along the way, assisting them with lifts or understanding what’s going on,” Evans said. “The seniors are definitely a big part of what I call our culture.”
Their guidance sets the tone not only for performance but also for the supportive environment that defines the team. Seniors on the team always strive to help their teammates in any way they can, whether it’s supporting them at meets or assisting during practice.
“With this being my third year on the team, I know the technique better, and Coach Evans has corrected me in the past, so I take my knowledge and the corrections he’s given me and pass them on to the younger girls,” said Van Adelberg.
She is not alone in this. Another senior, Anna Ferrell, expressed the same commitment.
“All the seniors do our best to guide and help the underclassmen grow and get strong,” Ferrell said.
With underclassman lifters being the future of Oviedo’s team, the seniors ensure a bright future for the community’s positivity to continue.
