OCU’s Olympic Weightlifting Club is bringing students from all parts of campus together.
Alumnus Tanner Struck and Dr. Jason Miller, chairman of exercise and sport science, started the club in 2011.
The club trains students and community members with the focus of competing in state and national tournaments and setting state records.
Miller said he started the club because of his love for lifting and exercise in general.
“As a college football player and then as a graduate student, I always loved lifting, coaching and being around the barbell,” Miller said. “The combination of the two is this weightlifting club, which is an opportunity to use a lot of my background as a lifter, coach and academic.”
Miller also said multiple students from the club competed on the national level within the last five years.
The club is comprised of four students and about 10 community members.
Miller said the club is not targeted just toward athletes and he is looking to add more student members.
“Anybody can join. We actually have quite a few community members that are training with the club as well,” Miller said. “Dancers and cheerleaders in particular make great weightlifters.”
Alyson Morse, exercise science junior, said she appreciates the club’s community aspect.
“Not a lot of places on campus will bring people of all different interests and talents together like that,” she said.
“Dr. Miller teaches and breaks down the movements in such a clear and professional way that, in just a matter of weeks, you’ll be throwing weight over your head that you never would have imagined you could.”
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