For Steinbrock, powerlifting is serious business
Clifton-Clyde senior Drake Steinbrock is one of the strongest pound-for-pound lifters in the state
Left: Russ and Drake Steinbrock pose with the district championship trophy last fall. Right: Drake prepares to execute a successful attempt at 320 pounds and break the Horton Powerlifting Meet record at 181 pounds. (Courtesy Photos)
Twice a part of the annual "Weighting Game" feature in Kansas Pregame Football Magazine, Clifton-Clyde senior Drake Steinbrock is known for his feats of strength. While others play basketball or wrestle during the winter, Steinbrock travels to powerlifting meets across Kansas where he competes against a barbell and multiple 45 pound plates.
At last weekend's Horton Powerlifting Meet, Steinbrock, competing in the 181 pound class, set meet records with a 320 pound clean and a 475 pound squat (check out the videos below). He also won the 181 pound bench press with a lift of 300 and missed on a record tying attempt of 315 pounds. He was the overall individual state champion at 181 pounds as a junior, and 165 pounds as a sophomore.
Steinbrock is one of 8-Man's best football players. As a senior last fall he rushed for nearly 1,200 yards with 23 rushing touchdowns. On defense he piled up 109 tackles, nine sacks, an interception and three fumble recoveries and helped his team to a 9-1 record. The Eagles were narrowly bumped from the playoffs in a 22-20 loss to Hoxie, the 2017 8-Man I champs.
For his efforts, Steinbrock earned first team All-League and All-State honors and he'll play in this June's 8-Man All-Star Game for the Division I West squad. He also throws the shot and runs a leg of the 400 meter relay during track season.
Eagle head football coach Russ Steinbrock, Drake's dad, says it all starts in the weight room.
"He loves lifting weights," the older Steinbrock said. "He started coming into the weight room when he was in first grade just doing PVC pipe exercises. I think being around the older lifters when he was young made him feel like he was a part of something at a young age."
The sport of powerlifting is not sanctioned by the Kansas State High School Activities Association, so meets are organized and managed by individual schools and coaches, or, in the case of state championships, by either the Kansas Football Coaches Association or the Kansas Eight-Man Football Association. But Russ Steinbrock says the sport is growing.
"For us our numbers are increasing as far as how many are participating," Russ Steinbrock said. "I also believe that there are more coaches that understand the importance, the need, and the advantages of having a strong strength program in their school. For many years weights was associated with football, but now all coaches see how it can benefit all sports."
Russ Steinbrock said most powerlifting meets Clifton-Clyde competes in are well attended and pointed to the 540 lifters that participated in last year's Kansas Eight-Man Football Association State Championship as an example.
Drake says the reasons for his success in the sport are two-fold.
"Probably because I have always been around it," the younger Steinbrock said of his success in powerlifting. "I strictly worked on only form until I was in sixth grade then started adding weight. I also just love the atmosphere of the weight room. The excitement and energy of what the room brings is definitely my favorite."
The Eagles finished third overall at last weekend's Horton meet, a fact that Drake says had a lot to do with the growth of the team.
"Powerlifting is really starting to grow in our school," Drake said. "When I was a freshman I was the only one to attend meets and at the Horton one we took 14 kids. I think whenever other kids saw me win a couple meets then they really got into it."
Other top performances for the Eagle powerlifting team at Horton include a second place overall finish at 165 pounds for Brant Douglas, a second place overall finish at 220 pounds for Nathan Ohlde and a first place finish in the bench press at 165 pounds for Skyler Robbins.
Drake said he doesn't plan to continue his football career in college, but plans to always work out and lift weights "just because I love staying fit and healthy."
For more powerlifting meet results visit hyperlifter.com.
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