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Next Level: How Charlie King Built The Foundation For His Biggest Season Yet
When Charlie King first walked through the doors of PowerStrength as a middle school athlete, college football wasn’t the focus.
Neither was becoming a Varsity quarterback at Grand Rapids Christian.
At that point, he was simply learning how to train.
Now, years later, Charlie is entering his Senior season with an All-Region selection, his first college football offer, and a goal of becoming an All-State quarterback.
The journey didn’t happen overnight.
It was built one workout, one season, and one year at a time.
WHERE IT STARTED
“I started coming to PowerStrength when I was in middle school,” Charlie said. “It really introduced me to what lifting looks like and what training for high school athletics should be.”
Like many young athletes, Charlie started in our youth program, learning movement patterns, building foundational strength, and developing habits that would eventually prepare him for the demands of high school sports.
At the time, it may not have seemed significant.
Looking back, it gave him a head start.
“It definitely gave me a step above the competition, especially as an underclassman,” Charlie said. “I started on Varsity as a sophomore, and I think coming to PowerStrength allowed me to get to the level of some of the juniors and seniors I was competing against.”
That early investment showed up quickly.
Charlie dominated at the freshman level before earning the starting quarterback role on Varsity as a Sophomore.
MORE THAN MUSCLE
For his mother, Emily, the physical improvements were obvious.
What surprised her was everything else.
“What we didn’t expect was his mental toughness and confidence,” she said. “You expect them to get bigger and stronger. What we weren’t expecting was how much his confidence would change.”
That confidence has become one of the biggest themes of Charlie’s development.
While PowerStrength helped him get stronger, faster, and more agile, Charlie believes the mental side has been just as important.
“The biggest thing is my confidence has improved,” he said. “I feel better about myself and more prepared. I know I can do these things because I see myself do it in the weight room.”
For a quarterback, confidence matters.
The position demands leadership, preparation, and the ability to perform when everyone is looking at you.
Emily believes PowerStrength helped prepare Charlie for those moments long before he ever stepped onto a Varsity field.
“To play Varsity football as a sophomore quarterback isn’t easy,” she said. “PowerStrength played a huge role in helping him get there. The physical development was important, but the confidence and mental side were just as important.”
BUILDING YEAR BY YEAR
The development didn’t stop once Charlie reached Varsity.
Each season became another step forward.
As a sophomore, he earned All-Conference Honorable Mention.
As a junior, he earned All-Region recognition.
Now entering his Senior season, Charlie has set an even bigger goal.
“The biggest expectation is that I want to be an All-State quarterback,” he said.
THE PREMIER DIFFERENCE
That pursuit is one of the reasons he joined PowerStrength’s Premier Advanced Training Program this year.
Charlie found himself training alongside some of the top football players in West Michigan – many of whom are preparing to play college football.
“The best thing I’ve noticed is getting together with a group of guys who are really serious about their sport,” Charlie said. “A Lot of the guys I’m lifting with are going to be college football players. Surrounding myself with those people has helped me continue to grow as a player and as a person.”
The Premier program has already delivered noticeable results.
Charlie has added size, improved his speed, and continued developing athletically despite balancing football preparation with track season.
“In addition to Premier, he wanted to compete in track too,” Emily said. “He went back to track and immediately started setting PRs. The speed change has been dramatic.”
THE OPPORTUNITY AHEAD
The timing couldn’t be better.
Recently, Charlie received his first college football opportunity from Calvin University.
It’s an important milestone, but not the finish line.
His goal is simple: continue creating opportunities.
“I want to get as many opportunities as I can and play at the highest level I can while also setting myself up for my future,” Charlie said.
Whether that path leads to Calvin, another college program, or somewhere else entirely, Charlie knows what got him here.
Years of consistent work, development, and choosing to invest in himself.
For Emily, that’s what makes PowerStrength different.
“Every session is another building block,” she said. “It’s not just about getting stronger. It’s about continuing to improve and continuing to grow.”
That idea perfectly reflects Charlie’s own description of what PowerStrength has meant to him.
Growing as an athlete, a leader, and a person.
And as Charlie enters his final high school football season with college opportunities beginning to open up, it’s clear that growth is still very much underway.
GET STARTED AT POWERSTRENGTH
3rd–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, Plainfield, Holland, or Byron Center.
Visit powerstrengthpro.com/athlete/contact to learn more or click below to schedule your assessment and get started.