The USA Weightlifting National Championships in Colorado Springs had a very distinct setup that made it conducive for Auburndale High School to galvanize fellow senior weightlifter Connor Bork as he lifted during the biggest moment of his life.
The reasoning: The Ed Robson Arena comprised three platforms for competition while also spreading the competition into several sessions that took place throughout June 20-28. Still, these differences made the tournament look much more professional, creating more of a focus on each individual lifter. Consequently, his Auburndale teammates could support Bork up and close and personal, and vice versa.
And while it is reasonable to expect that the national championships are more challenging mentally, Bork was even more calm thanks to Auburndale head lifting coach Gilbert Jones, who was significantly involved in his warmup, which set up a serene demeaner as Bork waited for his third attempt on clean and jerk behind the curtains placed in front of the warmup area.
As he was walking up to the platform, he felt ready to have fun, eventually performing the same routine with the same execution as any other meet, only keeping in mind some of the minute details of his technique, which ended with Bork executing five of his six attempts.
Bork had done it, racking up 61KG on the snatch and 84KG for clean and jerk, which tied his personal record. A couple of days later, he managed 170 pounds on the bench at the AAU series at Lake Gibson High School.
“It feels extraordinary to perform well while representing Auburndale weightlifting, as I get to compete for not only myself, but my family, my teammates, my coach, as well as the weightlifting program as a whole,” Bork said. “The fact that I get to compete for this great program makes the sport of weightlifting so much more enjoyable.”
Bork couldn’t even fathom an enjoyable weightlifting experience even a couple of years ago, as he had no knowledge that weightlifting existed prior to the winter break of his freshman year. But it took Polk County’s AAU harbinger in Jones, who happened to live right next to Bork in Auburndale, to show what the sport was all about.
It was Jones who walked over to Bork’s house, asking him if he was interested in weightlifting for Auburndale High School, though he never attended the school academically. As expected, Bork was initially skeptical that it would be the right sport for him, but after his first week of coming straight from Berkley Advanced Studies Academy – a school he attended his freshman and sophomore years – which didn’t have weightlifting as a sport, Bork discovered that weightlifting was enjoyable after all.
Bork went on to lift just 45 pounds for snatch, 70 pounds for clean and jerk and 66 pounds for bench in regionals his freshman year.
Look at him now. And Bork said he owes it to Jones.
“Coach Jones has been instrumental throughout my high school weightlifting career, as he has taught me about how to perfect my technique while also teaching me many things like consistency and determination, which are useful life lessons,” Bork said. “The sport has only reinforced my coach’s words of wisdom, allowing me to be successful and happy in more than just academics.”
Jones has been front and center for Bork’s maturation process.
“His development is unmatched by any athlete in the county,” Jones said.
This upcoming year, Bork will leave Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School – a school he attends academically – with not only a high school diploma but an associate’s degree. He then plans to continue at a university for a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree in aerospace engineering.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: How Auburndale’s Bork has unmatched lifting development in Polk County
Reporting by Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Magobet, Lakeland Ledger | USA TODAY Network
