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From EGR to the Big Ten: How Cole Bertke Built a College Football Career
Cole Bertke didn’t arrive at PowerStrength with a Division I offer in hand. He arrived with a reputation, a work ethic, and a willingness to do what it takes.
What happened next is a story every serious high school athlete in West Michigan should hear.
Cole is a multi-sport athlete at East Grand Rapids — a lineman who competed on both sides of the ball in football and also played basketball for the Pioneers. He started training at PowerStrength in the Spring of 2025, and the results showed up immediately — in the weight room and, most importantly, on the field.
This past Fall, Cole had a senior season to remember. He played a key role on both the offensive and defensive lines as East Grand Rapids won a district championship. He was stronger, faster, and more explosive than he had ever been. And college football programs were watching.
By the time his recruiting process wrapped up, Cole Bertke had earned a preferred walk-on offer to play football at Michigan State University in the Big Ten.
NIGHT AND DAY ON THE FIELD
Cole is direct about what PowerStrength did for him as a football player.
“It was night and day,” he said of his senior season. “I felt a lot more confident. I felt like I could move people better, and I moved better myself.”
That combination — the ability to impose your will physically and move with athleticism — is exactly what separates good linemen from great ones. And it doesn’t happen without the right training.
When Cole came to PowerStrength, he found something different — an environment built around attentiveness, accountability, and genuine competition.
“The attentiveness of the coaches, and then also your peers are all trying to have success,” he said. “There’s competitiveness with the peers, but also just trying to have fun while you’re at it.”
The results showed up in the numbers. His 20-yard shuttle improved. His broad jump improved. His strength numbers climbed. But more than any single metric, Cole kept coming back to one thing: confidence.
“I’ve seen gains in confidence, which allows me to go out there and perform better on the court or field.”
WHAT PREMIER DOES THAT NOTHING ELSE DOES
Cole did Premier — PowerStrength’s most advanced training program — in back-to-back Springs. If you want to understand why he arrived at his Senior season ready to dominate, start there.
“You get great coaching, you’re with great athletes, so you’re able to compare and compete with great athletes,” he said. “You’re lifting hard and lifting with intent.”
That environment — serious athletes, serious coaches, serious purpose — is what makes Premier different. It’s not just about what you lift. It’s about how you think, how you compete, and how you show up when it gets hard.
“PowerStrength teaches you about hard work, but also the confidence that comes with seeing gains,” Cole said. “It allows you to go out there and perform better.”
The growth Cole describes isn’t just strength. It’s not just speed. It’s the full package.
“It’s not just strength, but also agility and being able to move better. You’re able to see multidimensional growth.”
HOW MICHIGAN STATE FOUND COLE BERTKE
Cole’s path to the Big Ten didn’t follow a traditional recruiting timeline. An injury limited some early looks, and heading into his Senior year, Hillsdale College had emerged as a strong offer. Then Michigan State came calling.
MSU was in the process of recruiting Cole’s East Grand Rapids teammate, class of 2027 standout Grant Adloff, who is verbally committed to play for the Spartans. In the process, they got a look at Cole on tape — and what they saw made them take a closer look.
Cole worked out with the Michigan State staff. It was a quick process. By the end of recruiting, he had a preferred walk-on offer from a Big Ten program.
The foundation Cole built at PowerStrength helped in more ways than one.
“It brought a lot more looks,” he said. “It helped me with strength, helped me fill out, helped me become quicker. All great things for getting recruited. It pushed me over the edge and put me at an advantage compared to everybody else, because of how well it prepares you for whatever you do.”
READY FOR THE BIG TEN
Stepping from high school football to Big Ten competition is one of the biggest jumps in all of sports. The athletes are bigger, faster, and more technically refined at every position.
Cole isn’t intimidated.
“There will be some challenges, but this has prepared me well,” he said. “I can take what I’ve learned from Premier and apply it to what I’m going to do at the Big Ten level. It prepares you for the next level.”
That kind of confidence doesn’t come from hoping you’re ready. It comes from knowing the work you’ve put in — and trusting the process that got you there.
When asked to finish the sentence PowerStrength is — Cole had one word:
“Rewarding.”
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.