Local teen places at national weight lifting meet in California
Nick Ringwalt was able to accompany his student Mitchell Nelson to the USAPL Raw Youth Nationals in San Diego, Calif. earlier this year. Cortney Ringwalt | Beacon
COSHOCTON – In a little less than two years, Mitchell Nelson has become a weight lifting champion.
The Coshocton Junior High School seventh grader recently won first in this age and weight class at the USAPL Raw Youth Nationals in San Diego, Calif. He qualified for the event after earning first in his division at a meet in Ohio.
“I wasn’t as nervous (in California) as I was at my first meet because I knew what was going on,” Nelson said. “It was nice to stand on the podium there.”
He is the son of Mark and Lynn Nelson and is trained by Nick Ringwalt who started working with him in the summer of 2015.
“We’ve know each other for a long time,” Ringwalt said. “I started training him for football and then we switched to powerlifting. I think going to the Arnold Classic last year got him into it.”
Nick Ringwalt was able to accompany his student Mitchell Nelson to the USAPL Raw Youth Nationals in San Diego, Calif. earlier this year. Cortney Ringwalt | Beacon
In California he had to demonstrate how much he could lift in squat, bench and deadlift.
“My favorite to work on in the beginning was bench, but deadlift gets really exciting to do,” Mitchell said.
Ringwalt said deadlift is a little bit different than the others because it’s showing your raw power.
Mitchell really enjoys working with Nick three days a week.
“I think my success is all him for taking the time to work with me,” Mitchell said. “I really appreciate it.”
Nick, however, gives Mitchell the credit.
“He’s the one who puts in the effort,” Nick said. “Nothing else would matter if he didn’t do that.”
Mitchell’s mom and dad also are very proud of him.
“He’s only going to be 14 in June and he already broke the squat record for the next age up,” Mark said.
In California Mitchell benched 155, squatted 308 and in the deadlift was able to move 363 pounds. Nick said he broke four youth, three (12-13 year olds) Ohio State Records that he already owned and also the Ohio State Record for Teen 1 Squat as a Youth Lifter.
Even though he is already quite accomplished, Mitchell still plans to train with Nick and hopes to go back and compete at his first meet in Columbus.
“There is always another record to break or set,” Nick said.
Category: People & Places
