Clinger’s Commitment Elevates Her Game, Confidence on the Field
Paige Clinger, a senior at West Catholic High School, is no stranger to hard work.
A basketball and softball player, she has been on the varsity softball team since she was a freshman and continues to push herself with the help of PowerStrength.
Paige’s journey at PowerStrength started when she was in 9th grade as part of a training partnership with the Rockford Krush softball program.
After that, she became hooked and made a serious commitment to year-round training, regardless of her busy schedule.
“I come all year round, during softball season I make it a huge priority,” she said. “I think it’s very important to still come during your sport and while you’re in season. Because even though you’re in season and you’re doing your in-season lifts and stuff like that at school, coming here on top of that will benefit you so much more.”
What makes Paige’s story remarkable is her relentless dedication. Over the last 3 years, she keeps showing up, missing only on rare occasions. It shows how much she enjoys the gym and wants to improve.
“I love to come (to her sessions), I think I’ve missed maybe a total of, I want to say maybe six weeks of PowerStrength for the last three years,” Paige said. “I’ve only missed six weeks.”
SKILLS SOAR
If she is in the middle of basketball season, or preparing for softball, Paige always prioritizes strength training.
The results speak for themselves: her power and speed have skyrocketed, allowing her to move to a prime spot in the batting order and move quicker from base to base.
“I saw the ball going over the fence,” she said. “I used to not be a power hitter. Now I’m the third hitter. I bat for power now. I also bat for speed, my speed has gotten so fast.”
Paige credits PowerStrength for giving her more than just physical strength. It’s not just about getting stronger – it’s about knowing what she is capable of.
“I definitely wanted to get faster. I’ve always been on the faster side, but I haven’t always been quick with it, and PowerStrength has definitely helped with that.”
Paige feels like PowerStrength helped prepare her to play varsity softball from a young age, not only physically, but mentally too.
“Definitely as a younger player, I didn’t get looked at as an underdog,” she said. “I got looked at as I am strong, they would always push me to do more weight. They push me mentally too, and that mental push and everything, you get very mentally strong, and that can help in your sport.”
CONFIDENCE BOOST
Paige admits that she previously felt limited in how much weight she was permitted to lift. Her old trainer didn’t want her lifting too much weight, even when she felt like she could safely handle a little more.
PowerStrength’s certified trainers progress her safely to realize her full potential. This is a lot easier to do in the small, focused environment at PSTS, and not training alongside 20-30 other classmates.
And Paige’s strength gains have provided her with a serious confidence boost.
“(My previous trainer) I don’t think he loved to see the girls throw on so much weight. And so when I came here, and it’s like they’re telling me to put all this weight on (the bar). You realize how strong you actually are, and that makes you feel 10 times better about yourself.”
WINNING CULTURE
At PowerStrength, the athletes are serious about their sport and upgrading their skills. Paige has fit in incredibly well since she started almost 3 years ago.
“It’s just a whole different setting,” she said. “Obviously you have your high school lifts that you’re required to go to. You have to go to those. This isn’t a requirement. This is somewhere where you want to be. The gym, you walk in and it’s a whole different environment. It’s a positive environment. They push you hard, but they push you so hard to the point where you want to come back.”
The trainers at PowerStrength have become more than just coaches for Paige. Their level of support only fuels her determination as she continues to grow.
“In a session, it’s always fun. You get to laugh with these guys,” Paige said.
For those considering PowerStrength, Paige has a clear message:
“If you’re thinking like you’re coming in here and it’s gonna be easy, it’s not. It’s definitely not something that you can just be like, ‘I’m just gonna come in here and not think I’m gonna get pushed.’ You’re gonna get pushed. You’re gonna want to quit. Just like, anything that’s hard, you’re gonna want to quit. But if you stick with it, you will become so much better. You’ll see benefits in your sport. You’ll see that you become a better person because you’re here.”
CUSTOMIZED TRAINING
PowerStrength tailors training to each athlete’s specific needs. The coaches customize Paige’s workouts to align with the demands of softball and basketball, every aspect is designed with her specific sports in mind. This personalized approach has allowed her to make steady progress, helping her become a more well-rounded athlete.
“They work on a lot of drills, agility, they specify workouts for you,” Paige said. “They individualize your workout for you and your sport, which is just a complete game changer.”
While basketball is not her top sport, Paige has become a better player on the court thanks to PowerStrength. Though she is shorter than many of her opponents, the strength she has gained has allowed her to hold her own when guarding much taller players, especially down low, where her added power helps her compete physically.
“I’m not huge, I’m pretty small, I’m like 5’5”, pretty small girl, but with PowerStrength, with building my muscle and everything like that, I’m one of the stronger girls on the team, which really helps,”. Paige said. “It helps because you would think I’d be a shooting guard or point, but actually my junior year, I played a post position down with the big girls, and I did just fine down there because of my strength.”
As Paige looks ahead to her future, she has her sights set on playing softball at the collegiate level. With several school visits lined up, she’s keeping her options open for now, with no rush to make a decision. One thing is clear, wherever she goes, Paige will carry with her the lessons and work ethic she’s gained from her years at PowerStrength.
GET STARTED AT POWERSTRENGTH
5th-12th grade athletes of all sports and abilities can sign up at PowerStrength at any time while spots remain. Choose the PowerStrength location most convenient for you – Alpine, Kentwood, Jenison, and Plainfield – with a 5th facility in Holland opening in November 2024!
Visit https://powerstrengthpro.com/athletes to learn more or click below to schedule your assessment and get started.