PITTSTON, Pa. — "Powerlifting is the base of all sports."
77 year-old Ed Straub believes that. He's been the strength and conditioning coach at Pittston Area for quite some time, and coached the Woodall brothers at Pittston in wrestling for years. And 4 years ago started a Powerlifting team here with the Patriots.
"16 years-old he is a Texas powerlifting champ and that was his numbers. 570, 275 and 585 deadlift total for a total of 1,430lbs a quarterback in professional football when he was in high-school when he did that," Straub said.
4 years into it and Pittston has excelled at several different events. Recently bringing home four state champions in the 2024
Pennsylvania State Teenage Powerlifting Championships at Parkland High-School.
"So we we're nervous. But taking down 15 athletes and qualifying 13 out of 15 for the state championship and also for the National Powerlifting Championship in New Orleans they qualified also for that," Straub said.
"What do think of the sign over here that has Jalen Hurts' numbers from high-school? "
"I think that it is a good thing to kind of look at and say like that guy didn't even really want to focus on Powerlifting to much. He is in the NFL now and he never really focused on Powerlifting he was just doing it because he was strong," said Kaleb Walker.
"Straub is just such a great coach. He is very wise and he has been around for a long time. He knows
more than I will ever know. He has taught me kind of everything," said Nathan Zielinski.
The Powerlifting season for this Pittston team won't end until sometime in May. Coming up on March 24th there is an event at Abington Heights where they will attend, and then in April they head down to New Orleans for Nationals and then once May rolls around they will finish up at an event in Jim Thorpe.
"This is almost like to me like we are going to the Olympics," Straub said.