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Brody Ray: 5 Years of Preparing for Division I Lacrosse
Brody Ray, a Junior at Rockford, has long known he wanted to play college lacrosse. He also knew what it would take.
After five years at PowerStrength, he’s committed to the University at Albany, a program he describes as top 20 in the country, and he says he’s ready to compete when he gets there.
THE START
Brody didn’t find PowerStrength on his own. His older brother, Braylon, did.
“My brother came here first,” Brody said. “He loved the environment, and he wanted me to get into it because he knew I wanted to be like him.”
Braylon is currently playing college lacrosse at Lewis University.
Brody started in seventh grade and moved up to PowerStrength’s most advanced training program, Premier, when he was in eighth grade, training alongside athletes who were older and close to graduating from high school.
“It was a big deal,” he said. “That’s the prestige level of PowerStrength, and I think it really elevated my game.”
A DAD’S REASON
His father, Justin, first heard about PowerStrength from a friend, back when the program was still training athletes in the original garage.
He was looking for something more than he and the kids’ sports could give.
“I needed something: bigger, faster, stronger,” Justin said. “I brought him in for a test for my oldest, back in third or fourth grade. He loved it.”
What kept him coming back wasn’t only the physical results.
“The way they build these kids up from start to finish, you see the transformation,” he said. “Not even muscle. The way they lead people, the way they talk to people.”
THE CHANGE IN BRODY
Justin has watched Brody grow into a different athlete.
“He used to be timid going up against a bigger kid,” he said.
Now, he says, that’s gone.
“There’s not a kid he’s worried about, whether it’s five-star, 300 pounds, or no-star. This place has made it so he doesn’t have to worry.”
Justin also credits the training for keeping his sons healthy.
“He and his brother are not injury-prone,” he said. “They haven’t had twisted ankles or had to sit out for anything crazy, because they come in here.”
A MIND GAME
Brody isn’t the biggest athlete on the field, and his father is the first to say so.
What he can do is outwork his own limits.
“He’s not a big guy, but the way he can push weight around, it’s a mind game,” Justin said. “They taught him he can do things he didn’t think he could.”
That mindset carries over to games.
“It translates on the field,” Justin said. “He thinks, I can keep going, ‘I’m not that tired.’“
Brody sees it the same way.
“The workouts are really tough, but it’s the level you want to be at,” he said. “You’ve got to be there mentally as well.”
BUILT FOR HIS SPORT
Brody also trains with his high school team, doing advanced conditioning at Rockford.
PowerStrength adds training focused on him and his sport.
“It prepares you for the level you’re going to be out on the field,” he said. “The workouts are almost specific to your sport. It helps with your endurance and the body parts you need to excel at.”
THE NEXT LEVEL
Brody chose Albany for the level of competition and the chance to contribute right away.
“Albany is a prominent lacrosse school, top 20 in the country,” he said. “I was really looking for a program where I could get there and immediately make an impact.”
He knows what college training is like, and he’s been preparing for it.
“When you’re in the weight room at college, you don’t want to be the guy lifting the least,” he said. “You want to be competing for the starting spot.”
COMMUNITY
For Brody, what makes PowerStrength work is the people around him.
“You’re not just coming to a gym, you’re coming to a community,” he said. “They push you to be better, but you also want yourself to be better. If you want to play at the college level, you have to have a community around you supporting you.”
WHAT THEY TELL OTHER FAMILIES
Asked what he’d say to a parent considering PowerStrength, Justin didn’t hesitate.
“100%, it’s worth it. I don’t know where else you’re going to get what these guys give you. Not only in the weight room, but what they teach you about eating habits, and the leadership mentality that carries you through the rest of your life.”
Brody’s advice is to start with the goal.
“I’d ask them what they’re looking for. If they want to get better and become a better athlete, they should come to PowerStrength. They set a standard for you of trying to be the best person and the best athlete you can be.”
Asked to sum up what PowerStrength is, Brody kept it simple.
“It’s a place you can come to work on yourself and work on being the best version of yourself.”
WANT TO SEE BIG RESULTS?
3rd–12th grade athletes of all sports and ability levels can sign up at PowerStrength at any time throughout the year while spots remain. Choose the PowerStrength location most convenient for you — Alpine, Kentwood, Jenison, Plainfield, Holland, or Byron Center. Visit powerstrengthpro.com/athlete/contact/ to learn more or click below to schedule your assessment and get started.