Blog
From Unsure to Unstoppable: How Izzy is Growing Stronger Inside and Out
When Isabelle “Izzy” Wuis first came to PowerStrength Training Systems (PSTS) as a high school freshman, she was like many young girls her age—unsure of herself and clinging to a narrow idea of what a high school athlete should look like. For Izzy, that idea meant being skinny.
“I used to be so focused on trying to be the skinniest person,” Izzy said. “In my head, I thought being skinny meant being healthy. But when I came to PowerStrength, my whole mindset changed, being buff meant more to me than being skinny.”
Now a confident, explosive soccer player at Coopersville High School, Izzy is a living example of the mental transformation that happens when strength becomes the goal, not just in the gym, but in life.
THE SHIFT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING
Izzy’s PowerStrength journey started in 2021 as a freshman in high school, a pivotal time in any teenager’s development.
What she found inside the walls at PSTS was far more than just a gym—it was a safe, supportive environment that challenged her mentally, emotionally, and physically.
“It changed real quick,” she recalled. “The second you come in here, they’re not just talking about lifting. They’re talking about how you fuel your body and how important that is, making sure that your muscles are growing and you’re getting your goals.”
The culture at PowerStrength revolves around individualized training, constant feedback from certified coaches, and a tight-knit community of athletes all working toward their best selves.
For Izzy, that was the perfect environment to build confidence and discover her true strength.
BECOMING AN ATHLETE, BUILDING CONFIDENCE
Izzy started as a volleyball and basketball player and saw early returns from her work in the gym at PowerStrength.
“After coming here, I had the power and the strength to be able to get up and slam down on the ball, and I give full credit to PowerStrength for that transformation.”
Her physical growth was not explosive power alone, her overall athleticism had taken a major leap.
“Before I started here, I couldn’t jump very high, I wasn’t fast, I wasn’t able to sprint to the ball quickly. When I went back to volleyball the season after starting at PowerStrength, people were like, ‘What happened to her? Why can she jump like that?’” she said. “I could hit the ball harder than I ever had. After coming here, I can sprint.”
That feedback from teammates and coaches fueled her. For Izzy, it was proof she wasn’t just imagining progress—others were seeing it too.
“It gave me so much confidence because I wasn’t the only one seeing my results.”
Over time, Izzy shifted her focus away from volleyball and basketball, eventually making the transition to soccer.
She was drawn to the sport’s challenges and the opportunity to push herself in new ways. Whether diving as a goalie or sprinting to chase down a ball in the field, she leaned on the strength and speed she developed at PowerStrength.
“The explosiveness I have from PowerStrength in my legs is insane,” she said. “Soccer is leg-dominant, but when I throw the ball in, people from the other team are like, ‘Oh my gosh, she threw that ball far!’ I was strong in my upper body because of PowerStrength.”
MENTAL TOUGHNESS = LIFE STRENGTH
While her physical gains are impressive—adding 60 pounds to her bench press and sprinting faster than ever before—it’s her mental growth that truly defines her journey.
“When I came in, I was insecure about my body, about not being skinny enough,” Izzy said. “Now, the goal is to be strong and healthy. When you start lifting here, your growth is exponential, it’s huge.”
Izzy credits PowerStrength not only for helping her feel strong in her body, but for instilling a belief that she can do hard things—anywhere in life.
“At PowerStrength, you’re building muscle and strength, but you’re also building mental toughness. If I can come in here and do things that I didn’t think I could do, I can do so many more things outside of here.”
Her mom, Ingrid, has watched that mental shift firsthand.
“She realizes that strength and health matter,” Ingrid said. “Training at PowerStrength is important for her, and it makes that much difference in her well-being mentally and physically.”
TRAINING WITH PURPOSE
Now in the thick of her spring soccer season— balancing high school, early college classes, and a packed schedule—Izzy still makes it to PowerStrength for at least one personal training session per week. In the off-season, she’s in for 2-3 training sessions each week.
Why?
“Because I love it,” she said, smiling. “The community, the people, the coaches—they’re like my friends. They know my name. They ask how I’m doing mentally and physically. They care. I love coming in and working hard and knowing that I’m not losing my strength. It’s important to train in-season because you have goals you don’t want to just throw away. If you’re not working out and getting stronger, you’re losing that.”
During each training session at PowerStrength, Izzy gets to work with no more than six people per certified coach, who watches every rep for correct form to maximize results for each athlete. That has been instrumental in Izzy’s development.
“The coaches are top tier,” Izzy said. “They bond with you one-on-one. They ask questions, they see how you are physically and mentally, they push you, and they celebrate you to make sure that you’re going to grow.”
She’s learned how to fuel her body, too, moving from eating 50-80 grams of protein a day to consistently hitting 150.
“I didn’t know how much protein I should be having in a day,” she said. “Now I know what I should be getting to enhance my muscle growth.”
LOOKING AHEAD
As she finishes high school and continues college-level coursework through the early college program at Muskegon Community College, Izzy is considering playing soccer in college.
Whether or not she pursues it at the next level, she knows she’ll carry the mindset and strength she’s gained at PowerStrength with her forever.
“I’ve grown so much from PowerStrength,” she said. “I’ve learned so much about what I can do. I’ve learned so much about health, nutrition, and why strength is important.”
Izzy has not just become a better athlete. She’s becoming the strongest version of herself.
GET STARTED AT POWERSTRENGTH
4th-12th grade athletes of all sports and abilities can also sign up at PowerStrength at any time while spots remain. Choose the PowerStrength location most convenient for you – Alpine, Kentwood, Jenison, Plainfield, and Holland.
Visit https://powerstrengthpro.com/athlete/contact/ to learn more or click below to schedule your assessment and get started.
