Theo Lee ’24 grips the bar, ready to attempt a clean and jerk lift. Lee starts in a squating position then quickly stands up and swings the barbell up onto his chest with his strength and momentum. After a moment to catch his breath, Lee springs into the air, lifting the barbell high above himself. It’s a new personal best.

Lee’s journey to becoming a weightlifter is unique in that he didn’t begin his high school career knowing that it was his passion.

“Originally when I transferred to PHS ... I [played] soccer and basketball, and [ran] track,” said Lee. “I was a full year athlete with different school sanctioned sports,”

After a series of miscommunications with his soccer coach over a foot injury, Lee found himself off of the soccer team and onto the track team. While Lee quickly realized that track wasn’t the sport for him, one

aspect about track did inspire him: the weight room.

“One day, [in track practice], they put in cleans [a type of barbell lift] to the lifts, and I thought [that] was really fun, and [that] maybe I should do weightlifting,” said Lee. “So instead of going to track, I would go to the weight room and lift.”

John Torrey, the head of the strength and conditioning department at PHS, was glad to help Lee out with his Olympic style lifts, which are uncommon among weightlifters at PHS. “Theo had a natural aptitude for the olympic weightlifting, he was just technically very sound and very fast,” said Torrey.

“Theo did a lot of research and coaching on his own, and after picking up some outside coaching, he’s gotten even better.”

While Lee was able to see progress largely due to his own desire to improve, he understands that the opportunities which he was able to obtain through his coaches introduced him into the world of weightlifting outside of PHS.

“[Mr. Torrey] told me about a coach who does weightlifting coaching. [He was] hosting a meet and wanted to know if I could [attend],” Lee said.

At the competition, Lee met Jake Ruch, a fitness coach who has helped Lee with his routines, giving him tips on his form and mental strength. Ruch saw Lee’s potential to compete almost immediately.

“I said to myself, [Lee] has a determining factor and an inner drive that you don’t see a lot,” said Ruch. “He has an ability to cope, to not make excuses.”

At his second competition, Lee was introduced to many more athletes like himself, who were very competitive. Lee feels that this friendly competition has pushed him to work harder. On June 18, Lee will compete at the USA weightlifting competition, with weightlifters on Team USA.

“I’m looking forward to meeting people from different regions,” Lee said.

Although weightlifting has been a recent development in Lee’s life, he feels as though he has really gotten to know the weightlifting community.

“I think that it would be really cool if we could get some kind of get-together for everyone who’s always at the gym,” said Lee. “[Other teams] get their events with cake, but the weight room doesn’t have that ... it doesn’t really matter on paper what you are, it’s really about how you come together as a community.”

Lee understands the nerves of starting a new sport as well as any young athlete. For anyone at any age thinking about entering the world of weightlifting, Lee thinks that PHS is a welcoming and supportive place to develop.

“Even if you are trying to get into the weight room but you don’t really know what you’re doing or what type of lifts you want to do, don’t be afraid to try new stuff out,” said Lee. because everyone is figuring stuff out. People in the gym are really nice and would love to help you out.”