During the last week of school, December 17th, at Sunlake High School before winter break the girls weightlifting team had a meeting. There present at the meeting was the Zoey Cropper; Sophomore, one of the members of the varsity weightlifting team. There at the meet they discussed upcoming events, focused on the team spirit, and the training and goals of individual members, “just reminding us to have fun and stay true to ourselves,” says Zoey. In addition they learned about overcoming struggles they may face, like missing a lift and improving in a set, or just improvement in general in the field of their sport. As in all meeting for a sport, they wanted to prepare their team, Zoey mentions how the coaches and people in charge of the team wanted them to be ready for their next few events in the month and next year. These meets are also a positive and high energy environment, where team mates are always encouraging and cheering each other on. Zoey says she was inspired at the meet saying “This meet definitely pushed me to work harder, it didn’t go the best for me [last time] and it’s kind of been the reason to work harder and be better at the next meet and just keep improving,” and when asked about the goals she has this year she adds “A personal goal I’m trying to get is getting a 160 clean and jerk, and a 100 snatch,” a great goal to have motivation for. Her coaches are also often helping her and her team mates, telling them that “mistakes are bound to happen” and that its up to each one how they react, weather its by pushing back and working harder or just giving up.

Zoey Cropper joined the girls weightlifting team this year as a sophomore, making it her first season, after hearing about it from her brother who went to Sunlake and having a friend recommend it to her to try out. She also plays softball at Sunlake as well, with some of the members on the weightlifting team also on the softball team. And even though this is an individual sport it still one big happy family that wants to help each other, “One Team, One Heart beat,” which is something that Zoey remembers her coaches saying. Being on the team means to Zoey “your willing to cheers others on and kind allow yourself to forgive what mistakes you may have made, to help your friends hit their goals.” To anyone interested in joining, Zoey says, “I would tell them that no matter what, everyone always starts somewhere and all the girls just want to see you improve!”