Zack Sprenkle, a Pinetta resident and a graduate of Madison County High School, has been achieving great things since becoming the second student athlete from Madison County to ever win a Weightlifting State Championship.
After winning state, Sprenkle wowed the owner of Capital City Barbell, earning a spot in the gym's club, the FSU Weightlifting Club. During the USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Lift for Life event that was held on Saturday, May 7 in Smyrna, Ga., Sprenkle performed so well that he was qualified for USAPL's Raw Nationals, which will be held in October.
Sprenkle has explored many different things within weightlifting, including benches, squats and deadlifting. Sprenkle commented that he had never deadlifted in high school before, so this was a new experience.
At the Lift for Life event, Sprenkle had a total of 650 pounds in the 120 kilos weight class, breaking the state of Georgia's deadlift record. Sprenkle has also beat many of his own personal records; his former record for squats was 585 pounds but during the Lift for Life meet, Sprenkle squatted a total of 633 pounds.
Sprenkle finds motivation in self-improvement. “I try to better myself,” said Sprenkle. “I want to be the best that there is....the best team that there is. I want people to recognize me when I walk into a meet.”
Sprenkle is currently attending North Florida Community College and after, he plans to attend the University of West Florida to pursue a bachelor's degree in exercise science.
He is the son of Hal and Ramona Sprenkle, of Pinetta and the brother of Eli Sprenkle and Cortni Sprenkle Brown. He owes his success to his family, coaches and God.
“God gave me what I have and this is what I'm here to do,” said Sprenkle. “I would not be anywhere without God.”