KEYSER, W.Va. (WV Information) – As a instructor, coach, and household man, Keyser’s Mike Staggers influences lives on a regular basis in every of these roles.
Along with his latest involvement and success in energy lifting competitions, Staggers is now rising that sphere of affect, encouraging these in his cost to observe their passions, and even to step out of their consolation zones.
That’s precisely what Staggers has completed. Starting along with his entrance into a neighborhood competitors proper right here in Keyser, Staggers not solely gained, however caught the competitors bug. Subsequent got here a visit to Martinsburg and a win in a state competitors. Then got here the final word prize, a bid to, and subsequent win in, a nationwide competitors.
“I used to be born right into a household stuffed with athletes. From an early age, sports activities had been an enormous a part of our lives. One factor I used to be blessed with is a dad that could be a bodily therapist and all the time believed in energy coaching, as nicely an uncle who additionally did numerous weight lifting and energy coaching,” Staggers acknowledged.
In accordance with Mike, “My dad really purchased my brother and I our first weight set after we had been round 11 years previous. It was proper in our bed room, and whereas as a rule it may need been a garments hanger greater than the rest, we did use it some.”
Then, as occurs with many, Staggers’ actual involvement with lifting got here as he entered highschool and commenced enjoying on the gridiron for the Golden Twister.
“Once we had been heading into highschool, my brother and I began into the highschool weight program beneath Coach Tom Preaskorn. We each appreciated it, however I most likely appreciated it just a little extra. I usually beloved lifting instantly,” Mike detailed.
Then got here the affect of Parker Whiteman.
“Scott Furey wished to ensure my brother and I, as a result of my mother and pa had been each working, may get into Parker Whiteman’s summer time coaching program known as WOSP (Whiteman’s Off-Season Program). He drove us to ensure we had a journey,” Staggers acknowledged.
In accordance with Mike, “I’m telling you, Whiteman’s energy and conditioning program, we attempt to emulate that in this system we run now, as a result of it was particular. You didn’t simply elevate weights, you grew to become a crew in these energy and conditioning classes. I received actually robust and I beloved it.”
When Coach Biser got here to Keyser in Mike’s senior yr, he introduced a year-round energy and conditioning program. Staggers had quite a lot of success by that program as nicely.
Then, as usually occurs put up highschool, the momentum stopped.
“Then I went to varsity, and I wasn’t enjoying soccer anymore. Like numerous ex-athletes, I received used to consuming like an athlete, however not working like an athlete. Over just a few years in faculty I gained some weight. It was really Derek Stephen who received on me and mentioned you could get again within the weight room. I informed him as quickly as I moved again to Keyser, I might begin lifting with him,” Mike detailed.
True to his phrase, that’s precisely what he did.
“Derek and I began coaching our butts off up at the highschool. At the moment, we had been operating a energy and conditioning program for ladies. It was throughout that point that he, and one yr later me, each received began teaching soccer. We had been each coaching at that time fairly constantly, getting robust, and having enjoyable with it,” Staggers defined.
It was the phrases of Sean Biser, basically {that a} coach ought to observe what he preaches, which have continued to encourage each Staggers and Stephen by Keyser’s energy and conditioning program.
In accordance with Staggers, “Coach Biser would all the time preach that in case you’re going to be one of many weight room coaches, you could not solely know what you’re doing, but in addition be capable of present the children that you just reside what you preach. Derek and I’ve all the time taken that to coronary heart.
So, along with educating and training energy and conditioning, Staggers lives it, figuring out himself to remain robust, and to function motivation for his gamers.
“I elevate on the faculty, that’s what we’ve all the time completed. In the summertime, for instance, we’re doing our summer time program, Derek and I, and among the different coaches, we go in early and elevate. That offers us the chance to set issues up for the day and get our lifts in,” Staggers acknowledged.
In accordance with Mike, “Throughout the faculty yr, I’ll go up and elevate within the mornings within the decrease weight room that we have now on the faculty, normally simply earlier than 7 a.m. I get as a lot of a exercise in as I can in an hour, get cleaned up, after which head to my classroom and educate.”
Staggers feels he and the opposite coaches have made a distinction, and constructed higher bonds with their gamers as the results of being so concerned in staying robust themselves.
“In the event that they see a coach in there placing within the work on themselves, they are going to determine we all know what we’re speaking about. That helps them know that we can assist them get stronger. They’re residing it, however we proceed residing it as nicely. It lets them belief you much more. That belief means lots,” Mike defined.
As Staggers continued to elevate and get robust, most just lately, a call to start competing in aggressive energy lifting competitions would come, admittedly later than perhaps it ought to have.
In accordance with Mike, “I informed some others, I really feel like I missed a few of my peak performing years. Round 2014, 2015, and 2016, I used to be placing up lots higher weight than I do now on each elevate I used to be doing. There was some extent the place I used to be squatting 585, lifeless lifting over 500, army urgent 395, incline urgent 495. I used to be placing up loopy numbers as a result of I used to be at that peak the place energy and age was at its greatest.
However throughout that point, Staggers insists he merely had different priorities. Individuals instructed it, however he declined. Pleasure, and just a little little bit of apprehension performed a task in preserving him away from competitions as nicely.
In accordance with Mike, “Somewhat little bit of it was additionally that I’ve numerous satisfaction. I’m very aggressive, you’ll be able to’t coach soccer on this space and never be extremely aggressive. I hate shedding greater than I like successful. I simply figured, I have already got highschool soccer, I don’t want one thing else to gnaw at me.”
Then, it lastly occurred.
“Among the soccer gamers began asking me why I by no means did any competitions. And on the similar time, Derek Stephen despatched me a message about Warrior Health and their annual competitors. It was bench press and lifeless elevate solely, and you possibly can select to simply do bench press, and Derek principally mentioned it was time to place up or shut up. So, I did it,” Staggers defined.
In accordance with Mike, “That was my first competitors, it was native, and I gained my weight class that day. That completely received my aggressive juices flowing. My spouse will inform you, it gave me an unbelievable adrenaline rush. My fingers had been shaking as a result of my coronary heart was pounding and the blood was flowing. I ended up bench urgent 405 that day and I used to be actually amped. She may inform instantly that I actually appreciated this.”
After that native competitors, Staggers then sought out an influence lifting federation that he may compete in, and hopefully one which was comparatively native. He discovered the American Energy Lifting Affiliation, which has a sturdy chapter situated within the Jap Panhandle in Martinsburg. That group hosted the West Virginia Spring Open Competitors, the place Staggers was once more profitable.
“My spouse couldn’t go, so Derek Stephen went with me. I competed and gained my weight class that day, however I actually didn’t have an incredible day. I solely hit one in all my lifts, benching 385, but it surely was adequate to win and qualify me for the nationwide competitors. I assumed that was actually cool, however actually didn’t determine on competing at nationals,” Staggers defined.
Then got here some numbers crunching. After reviewing the outcomes from the prior yr’s nationwide competitors, Staggers appreciated the place his numbers stood, and he started pondering of constructing the journey to nationals in Oakville, Connecticut. However, Staggers was bouncing across the situation of the cash concerned.
“Then, Logan Delsignore, native realtor and enterprise proprietor, was speaking to me about getting a neighborhood enterprise sponsor. He then supplied to be that sponsor. His solely situation was that I put on a shirt that mentioned #buywiththebeard. He sponsored my entrance price, we took care of the resort prices, and my spouse and I had been excited for a weekend away.” Staggers acknowledged.
He gained on the native stage, he gained once more on the state stage, and wouldn’t you recognize it, Keyser’s personal Mike Staggers would win once more on the nationwide stage.
“I ended up successful my weight class, beating the second ranked man. He benched 390 or 395, and I did 400,” Mike detailed.
Bitten totally by the aggressive bug, and after nice success, Staggers has dedicated to persevering with on with aggressive energy lifting.
“My spouse Erin is massively supportive however nonetheless a nervous wreck when I’m competing. I informed her some folks run 5k’s, some folks do marathons, however I’ll do that, that is my factor,” Staggers defined.
In persevering with to do his factor, Mike Staggers will function an inspiration to his gamers, college students, colleagues, and his personal kids.