Killingly High senior to compete in largest women's powerlifting meet: what is powerlifting?
What began as soccer conditioning has turned into passion for Killingly High School senior Sherrie Simoneau.
Simoneau originally started lifting weights at Windham County Strength & Private Fitness in Canterbury to get into better shape for soccer. After seeing her strength, Mike Behrle, owner of Windham County Strength & Private Fitness, encouraged Simoneau to start powerlifting.
Since she began powerlifting two years ago, the 17-year-old has shined. Simoneau is currently ranked fifth all time in her age and weight class.
Right now, she is training for the 2024 IPA Cincinnati Women’s Pro/Am, the largest women’s powerlifting meet in the world. Simoneau will compete in the amateur event on April 13, where she will have the opportunity to become the No. 1 powerlifter in her age group and weight class.
“There are a couple world records that I would like to beat,” Simoneau said in regards to the Pro/Am.
She hopes to set the record in her weight class and age group for the squat, deadlift as well as the total weight lifted for her squat, deadlift and bench press. Currently, Simoneau’s personal records in powerlifting competitions are 345 lbs for the squat, 160 lbs for the bench press and 365 lbs for the deadlift, which totals 870 lbs. She has participated in four powerlifting competitions to date.
Sherrie’s training
Simoneau trains four days per week at Windham County Strength & Private Fitness. Monday’s workout focuses on deadlifts and Wednesday’s focus is on the bench press. Friday, Simoneau focuses on her squat and she spends either Saturday or Sunday with a bench press workout.
“We train using a system called conjugate,” said Mike Behrle, Simoneau’s powerlifting coach and owner of Windham County Strength. “It’s a combination of maximum effort, dynamic effort, which is more speed and explosiveness, and repetition effort, building muscle.”
More than just a powerlifter
In addition to powerlifting, Simoneau is a competitive dancer. She dedicates approximately eight hours per week to dance and participates in about six competitions each year.
Simoneau played soccer all four years at Killingly High School and is currently ranked fifth in her class academically.
Goals for the future
Following the Pro/Am next month, Simoneau wants to focus more on equipped powerlifting. Equipped powerlifting means using additional gear such as bodysuits, weightlifting belts and knee sleeves.
“In this gym (Windham County Strength), she squatted 530 [lbs] in gear,” Behrle said. “There’s a bright future in that too. She has a better chance to qualify for the Pro Day equipped. She just handles it so well.”
Simoneau plans to attend Eastern Connecticut State University in the fall, where she is considering studying either math or criminal justice. One of the reasons she plans to attend Eastern is due to its close proximity to Windham County Strength, as she plans to continue powerlifting in college.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Killingly High senior to compete in Women’s Pro/Am powerlifting meet
