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MAD :
How did you get started in Powerlifting,
Who brought you into this
crazy sport? Who where your
influences?
NICK : Like a lot of other people, I started training for
high school sports. Paul Ellering, the former manager of the Road
Warriors, and his wife at the time, Deb, turned me to the sport. They
taught me the basics. At a small meet at their gym in St. Rose, MN in
August of '99, I met Brad Gillingham and Gary Grahn. Brad's in-laws are
from the nearby town of Sauk Centre and he was in the area that
weekend. Gary had done a meet at this gym before and returned to it.
We all met the same day and later learned of Brad's accomplishments in
powerlifting. Brad explained to me that I was pretty strong and that I
may have the opportunity to travel around the world to compete via the
USAPL/IPF. Gary, Brad, and I kept in touch about training and
competing. I did my first USAPL meet in January of 2000 and was hooked.
MAD:
Let's face facts, not many people can say that there 3rd meet was Worlds.
How did you feel about your progress and Powerlifting having
accomplished this?
NICK: It was actually my 4th meet. I did the MN State meet in January,
the Kasson meet in April, Jr. Nationals in June, and then Jr. World's.
I thought it was great to be able to travel and compete in another
country. After getting a taste of the world platform that year, I
really wanted to be back. Since I was just starting out, I was seeing
big gains in each lift and was excited about that.
MAD:
Your
rapid and consistent progress has been the wonder of many
lifters around the country. What is the basis of your training?
NICK:
I guess you can call it the Jackal's Gym Methodology.
Jackal's has the finest drug free, raw lifters that I have ever met.
The whole idea is to get as strong as humanly possible without the aid
of gear. This not only works for the powerlifter, but for athletes from
all disciplines. Of course, the underlying basis of any athlete's
training is (or should be) hard-work, consistency, and to have a goal.
MAD: What
is this I hear about you doing other sports like Volleyball, softball
and golf? Does this not interfere with your training? How serious are
you involved with those sports?
NICK:
I've always loved sports and can't see myself not
participating in them. I have learned to scale back a bit before big
training days and meets, thanks to Brad and Gary. Playing these other
sports does not interfere with my training. In fact, I strongly believe
that they help each other. I've become much better in each of these
sports because of powerlifting. I'm able to run faster, jump higher,
and hit the ball further now than ever before. The reverse is also
true. The short sprints and countless times jumping in a game of
softball or volleyball act as a from of plyometrics which helps with
explosive strength.
MAD:
What
are your goals with this sport?
NICK: My goal is to
continue to compete and improve at the national and world level. I've
got a lot of work to do, but I will be a National Champion and with any
luck will be a World Champion.
MAD: What
are your views of drug use in our sport?
NICK:
There are always going to be people using. I don't have a problem with
people that openly admit that they use and compete in non-tested feds.
I do have a problem with people that use and that compete in tested
feds. Plain and simple it's cheating. People can do whatever they want
to their bodies, but if you're going to compete in a "drug free" fed,
get off the sauce or get the hell out.
MAD: What is your best
experience in Powerlifting to date
NICK: Without question or hesitation, my best experience in powerlifting was
attending the Opening Ceremony for the 2005 World Games. There were
30,000+ people in attendance to see the athletes. It was unbelievable
to see that the sport that we participate in is part of something so
huge. It was also a pleasure to share the platform with Brad Gillingham
at the World Games. Although my meet did not turn out as planned, it
was an experience that I will never forget.
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Opening Ceremony 2005 World Games |
MAD: Anything else you would like to say? Anyone you
would like to thank?
NICK:
I want to add that I am proud to be a part of the
Minnesota powerlifting pool. We've got great lifters all over this
state and it's always a pleasure to have the opportunity to talk with
many of them at meets throughout the year.
I would
like to thank Brad and Gary for being great friends and making me a
better lifter. I also want to thank all of the guys down at Jackal's
for inviting me down throughout the year for big squat nights and for
pushing me. Thanks to my training partners Jason, Rob, Travis,
and Chris for the great workouts. Thanks to Titan Support Systems for
all of their help. Finally, thanks to my family, especially my wife
Sara and son Blake for the great support and understanding.
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