True Resilience with Ritah Asiimwe

Two thieves broke into Ritah’s Grandma’s house wielding machetes and hammers. Knowing her family was in the other room, Ritah distracted the thieves calling attention to herself; they chased her out of her home, cornering her on a quiet street. Ritah’s goal was to get them away from her loved ones.

Hours later, Ritah woke up on the ground in a pool of blood, her dominant right hand hacked off by machette and dangling by a tendon – the thieves had left her for dead…

Read More

IHSPLA History & the Tiger Regional

By Jim Davis, Ed.M., MA, RSCC*D I was sitting in a folding chair in the basement of the YMCA in Niles, Illinois. 23 at the time, I’d been powerlifting alongside my football career. Strength played a major role in my life and it was now a competitive sport for me. I trained hard for this…

Read More

Toss the Trophies (from Bedrock Edu.)

Wait. Don’t toss the trophy… The title is a misnomer. Trophies are awesome. Goals are essential and when they are accomplished, they should be celebrated. In sports, it comes in the form of a trophy or a ring, in business it might be a bonus or promotion. Celebrate the milestones, you’ve earned it. When the celebration is over, take time to frame the experience. That is, tell the story of what just happened. Work to understand the process that led to the outcome and find joy in that process.

Read More

The Power of Service-Learning in 2022

For coaches using sport as education, remember to create opportunities for service-learning. It is one of the most powerful ways connect your team to the community.
The New Trier Powerlifting Team has been active for more than a decade. From the beginning, they have held tight to an important mission: “Human development through the pursuit of competitive excellence and commitment to community.” The group is in its second year as a varsity sport, competing primarily in the Illinois High School Powerlifting Association.

Read More

Westtown Throwdown

By Chris Dertz On Saturday, December 10th, over 50 high school students representing five area schools gathered at Golder College Prep in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood for a powerlifting meet. Golder College Prep, the newest member school of the Illinois High School Powerlifting Association (IHSPLA), hosted the aptly named Westtown Throwdown. Coach Martin Quiroga, the…

Read More

Can Ken Keep His Cool in Buffalo?

The Miami Dolphins beat the Buffalo Bills 21-19. In the waning moments, Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey was recorded tearing apart papers, notebooks, and tossing whatever was in reach. Was this a passionate response to a tough situation or… a temper tantrum?

Read More

The Gathering of the Iron Tribes Begins…

2022 IHSPLA Season Kicks Off at the Charger Regional Author: Chris Dertz On Saturday, February 26th, the first meet of the 2022 Illinois High School Powerlifting Association (IHSPLA) season commenced on the campus of Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Illinois. Representing the IHSPLA’s South Suburban Region, powerlifters from Sandburg, Romeoville, Marist, and…

Read More

Always Building

There are two ways to create the tallest building in town. One can spend all their time and energy tearing down the buildings around them, or one can focus on making their building the tallest. The value of the two final products will be vastly different.

Read More

One of the Greats: Coach Bobby Bowden

by Dr. Pat Ivey In 2021, we lost a legendary college head football coach. I never personally met Coach Bobby Bowden but I did have a chance to hear him speak at a national conference. The room was packed and everyone was eager to hear him present. If you ever listen to any of his…

Read More

Antonio Brown’s Last Game in the NFL??

We can’t say “I told you so” but we have been skeptics from the start. Back in 2019, we were critical of the Raiders team Jon Gruden was assembling. Since then, Gruden and his band of high-talent/low-character athletes have proven the concept that over the long haul, talent is an over-valued commodity. In today’s game,…

Read More