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From Cut to All-State – Consistency Transforms Simonson
Ace Simonson was a soccer player as a youth.
“I could never make the team,” the Forest Hills Eastern junior said about his soccer experience.
Like any competitor would, Ace found another sport.
“I made a switch to football,” Simonson said. “I wanted to be bigger, stronger, and faster so my dad enrolled me at PowerStrength.”
Walking into the PowerStrength Training Systems (PSTS) building for the first time as a 7th grader, Ace knew he had found the right place.
“You could definitely feel there was a presence in here that’s not felt anywhere else. The trainers, the athletes, there is a whole energy in here (at PowerStrength) that you can’t find anywhere else.”
Every session at PowerStrength is broken up by age group. So Ace was always in the 5th-8th grade ‘Little Beast’ group growing up. Then he graduated ‘early’ because of his development into the High School sessions as an 8th grader to better prepare him for high school – where Ace ended up getting Varsity experience as a freshman.
“When Ace first started training in middle school, he always came into every session with a positive attitude and a curious mind to improve,” PowerStrength Founder and CEO Mark Ehnis said. “He would ask a bunch of questions and you could tell just enjoyed the training environment. Now, it is part of who he is. And years of consistent work are paying off – with countless opportunities on the horizon.”
Ace is now in his 5th year of training at PowerStrength. He even has had the unique experience of training at 3 of the 4 PSTS locations during that time – so, Ace knows PowerStrength!
*PowerStrength has locations surrounding the Grand Rapids area – Alpine, Plainfield, Jenison, and Kentwood.
The Results
Ace has become one of the most-known faces around PSTS because of his dedication and effort towards always getting better. And his coaches have noticed.
“Consistency. Hard worker,” Brian Paulsen, General Manager at PowerStrength on Plainfield said about Ace. “Having the opportunity to work with an athlete like Ace consistently for so long, from 7th grade until now, is extremely advantageous. From a long-term athletic development standpoint, that’s what you want. It’s a huge reason for the results he’s seen, but also a great predictor of the results to come. “
And the results are evident. Ace has seen and felt the effects of his training.
“It’s been massive! I’ve put on close to 60 pounds (of bodyweight) since I started coming here (to Premier), Simonson said. “I went from an All-Conference player (as a sophomore) to an All-State player (as a junior).”
Ace was also awarded as 2023 Grand Rapids Dream Team selection as an offensive lineman. He helped the Hawks have their most successful campaign in eight years while averaging over 33 points per game the last two seasons.
But Ace’s strength didn’t grow overnight. He spent years working with the coaches at PowerStrength to get to where he is today.
“All my lifts went up by hundreds of pounds,” he said. “(Last winter) I walked in here doing 225lbs (bench press test) for maybe two and then after the next Premier (3-months) it was 225 for 15! I just saw massive growth, that has been a really big confidence booster and that has really translated well onto the football field.”
Those kinds of results are not often seen.
“We knew he was going to improve but that was actually borderline hard to fathom,” Paulsen said. “He added 13 reps to his 225 bench test last winter, that’s an insane amount to add over the course of four years. Most people if they can bench 225 as a sophomore for one or two don’t even end up getting to where they can bench a set of 10, let alone a set of 15 as a senior – and Ace was able to make those strides in literally a three month period of time. When I see some awesome results like that, it is truly incredible, but with a kid like him I’m not that surprised because of how dialed in he is when he is here and when he is not here.”
Making it Happen
Ace finds ways to train at PowerStrength as frequently as possible, regardless if it’s during the season or the off-season. In doing so, he avoids any setbacks in his development. The training definitely adapts, but the consistency of training stays the same.
Like the majority of PSTS athletes, Ace also works out at his school in addition to his 3-4 PowerStrength sessions each week. He has also participated in Track and Field as an underclassman.
“He doesn’t have many excuses when it comes to reasons for not coming here,” Paulsen said.
“Whether it is entering a sports season or just a general busy season of being a high school student-athlete, he always finds a way to make some sort of progress happen all the time. There’s a lot of reasons why he’s having success, but a big piece of it is his ability to move the chains forward, regardless of what else is going on, he maintains his consistency.”
“Ace loves the process and is a pro when it comes to handling his training and the direction he gets from his coaches,” Ehnis said. “It’s been a privilege to watch Ace grow into the young man he is today and it’s a pleasure to have him at PowerStrength. He’s respectful, a leader among his peers, and he continues to transform as an athlete – he impacts everyone around him. With the foundation he’s built, he’s just going to continue to get better and it’s our job to keep expanding his comfort zone. After a decorated junior football season, it will be fun to watch him as a senior.”
More Progress Ahead
Ace is currently a member of our Premier Advanced Training Program for the second year in a row. This program is specifically designed and tailored for athletes who are serious about getting to the next level of their performance. Premier is an invite-only program and is segmented into two 3-month training periods. It’s designed for “big fish to compete with other big fish.”
Like last year, Ace will participate in Premier for all 6-months.
“You are with athletes that are just as good as you, if not better, so there is always something to reach for to get better so you just get to keep that motor running and you get to compete and that is probably the best part about Premier.”
With many gains still ahead for Ace at PSTS, his goals are set high.
“I have aspirations to play Division 1 or Division 2 football,” Simonson said. “Being surrounded by guys who are reaching those goals, that just makes me want to try even harder to get there.”
At 6’2 and 290lbs, Ace is making another transformation this winter as he’s focusing even more on his strength, speed, and explosiveness. He’s taking his nutrition more seriously and follows a framework for his performance goals. He’ll test and retest his body fat percentage and lean muscle mass throughout his training program making sure this is where it needs to be.
“Ace will be playing football in college somewhere,” Ehnis added, “wherever he ends up, they’ll be getting a focused, tough, well-prepared athlete that will impact their program and their locker room.”
Ace is a stock-riser in the class of 2025. He’s currently ranked the 16th best lineman in the Michigan 2025 class by Preps Redzone, and the 3rd ranked player in West Michigan.
While rankings are uncertain and unpredictable, Ace’s consistency and determination are not.
Get Started at PowerStrength
*The winter Premier program was sold out. Spots are still available for the spring Premier session starting in March but act fast.
5th-12th grade athletes of all sports and abilities can sign-up at PowerStrength at any time throughout the year while spots remain. Multiple sessions are offered after school and into the evening, specific times varied by location.
Visit powerstrengthpro.com/athlete/contact to learn more or click below to Get Started
