College is your time, the part of life where you begin to shape into a well-rounded person and make a name for yourself. Strategizing and forming a personal work ethic is one step to the road to success, and no better place than the gym to practice self-discipline and routine. Speaking to the newer members of tness– do you feel a little intimidated on the amount of options there are? Do not know where to start or what long-term goals you want to pursue? Looking to expand your lifting rep- ertoire? If you are having any doubts whatsoever about your tness, then Plymouth State’s Barbell Club may have something for you.

Seniors Liam Smith and Michael McAloon have been lifting since their high school days. Both are very passionate about their weight lifting lifestyle, and decided to extend their mutual interest to their primary edu- cation. Each have a major in Exercise and Sports Physiology. Growing more knowledgeable in the classroom on performing correct human movements– and of course in the gym growing some gains– Liam felt as though he hit a bump in the road; that bump being his everyday body- building and strength training had led him into a rut. Feeling bored with his routine he ventured out to join a club that would ll him again with the excitement to lift, but looking further into his options he realized no such club existed. Determined to create one himself, Liam turned to his friends for support, and coming together they formed Barbell Club in Winter 2017.

Liam and Michael use their club environment to put emphasis on improving lifting technique. Real- izing that everybody is different in shape and attitude, they focus on evidence-based training to nd what feels good for you, and works for your personal routine. In a club environment surrounded by people who know what they are doing, the chances of injury and incorrect form are minimal to none, and getting to observe others and receiving consis- tent feedback from people who want to help is good for those who may not know what is right and what is wrong when using weights. The duo primar- ily utilizes Olympic and Powerlifting techniques in the club, making a club goal to get new members excited to start lifting weights and maybe trying something they have not before; you do not know if you will like it before you try it.

“For new members, we want to get them excited and not intimidated by weights, that is a really big thing. They will come into the club and see other people throwing a 100 pounds to 200 pounds over their head and be intimated. But, we just want to get them comfortable doing a 45-pound bar, and stuff that accommodates them. says Michael.

Fitness is clearly very important to Liam and Michael ’s lifestyle, and they believe everybody should integrate at least a small portion of their time to some form of physical activity.

“You feel great just through day-to- day things. Like when I am walking upstairs I do not hu -and-pu any- more, lifting things up and carrying your backpack. You just feel stronger throughout your day,” says Liam.

Barbell Club meets every Monday and Thursday at 8:00 PM at the P.E. Center. To contact both club mem- bers, emails are ljsmith2@plymouth. edu and mmcaloon@plymouth.edu

So come out and give it a try!