HUMBOLDT — Mixing equal parts perspiration, inspiration and a bit of knowledge has put Drew Counsil in the record books.
The Humboldt High senior set state records in two categories last weekend en route to winning a state title at the Kansas State Weightlifting Championships in Conway Springs.
Counsil set state records by squatting 455 pounds, and lifting another 285 pounds in the bench press. Tack on 235 pounds in the clean and jerk (the second best mark in the state for that portion) and Counsil lifted a combined 975 pounds on the day, a whopping 130 pounds over his nearest competitor.
Counsil was joined on the medal stand by Humboldt’s Kinley Tucker, who won the girls heavyweight title with a combined mark of 590 pounds. She tied a state record in the squat, lifting 305 pounds, and took third in the bench press at 155 pounds and sixth in the clean and jerk at 215 pounds. Her combined mark was 10 pounds clear of Kingman’s Rocio Balbuena.
Rylan Covey, competing at 181 pounds, missed out on a state title by five pounds, behind Neodesha’s Cameron Stover, 515 pounds to 510. Covey placed third in the bench press at 135 pounds, third in the squat at 225 pounds and second in the clean and jerk at 150 pounds.
Humboldt’s Maddox Johnson also earned a medal, taking sixth overall at 220 pounds by lifting a combined 855 pounds (245 pounds in the bench press, 375 pounds in the squat and 235 pounds in the clean and jerk.)
“All the lifters did very well,” Humboldt coach Jason Weilert said. “I am very proud of the results we had.”
Despite only entering three girls, Humboldt finished a scant 13 points out of first place as a team, Weilert said.
Cassidy Friend also competed for the Lady Cubs in the 114-pound division. She lifted 85 pounds in the bench press, 160 pounds in the squat and 95 pounds in the clean and jerk, good for 10th overall at 340 pounds.
Hunter Hutton also competed on the boys side for HHS at 132 pounds. He bench pressed 140 pounds and lifted 115 pounds in the clean and jerk, while not registering a weight in the squat. He took 12th overall at 255 pounds.
While Counsil has been active in athletics most of his life, and an avid weightlifter since first signing up for high school football as a freshman, he hadn’t given much thought about competing in powerlifting until about a year ago.
He grew up with football as his main passion. “I’ve had a lot of great coaches who got me into it, just great people,” he said.
But as he grew older that changed. Injuries derailed his junior season on the gridiron, and when he returned to full health, his football passions waned.
“I’ve never talked about this before, but I just didn’t have that same spark and that same love for football,” he said. “At the same time, I didn’t just want to not do anything, so I decided to redirect my energy somewhere else.”
That somewhere else became the weight room.
“When I first started going back to the gym, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” he said. “I had just gotten out of a relationship, and speaking scientifically, going to the gym releases serotonin in your brain, and helps you feel better.”
It turns out, Counsil’s physique is ideal for powerlifting because of his short arms and legs.
