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Catching up with Jessica WatkinsInterviewed by Coach Jim Ford
For the past year many of us have missed the presence of Jessica Watkins at powermeets and from our World Team roster. I had a chance recently to chat with Jessica and we discussed how she is doing and what her future plans are. First, a little about her. The 23 year old lives in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and is employed as a graphic designer. She has been lifting for about 5.5 years, although it was not her initial venture into the field of athletic competition.
(JF) Well Jess, have you been involved in any other sports?
(JW) "Yes, in high School I played soccer, basketball, and softball. I went on to compete in softball at Indiana State U. but when I moved home I focused on Powerlifting".
(JF)"Can you tell us about some of your high points in the sport?"
(JW) "I have two specific memories that really stand out. 1st- making my first Jr World Team and getting to travel to a foreign country blew my mind at the time. I thought that it was just amazing! I had no idea what to expect and how good the rest of the world athletes would be. I had been told that the Russians were good, but had NO idea that they would be so much stronger than I at the time would. Making the team was a pretty big thing because previous to making the team I had only done 3-meets and then off to Jr Worlds. My first meet was Indiana State meet; 2nd was Women's Nationals; and 3rd was Collegiates. And then I was going. It was an amazing experience!"
(JF) "Yes, I was coaching some of those early teams you were on. You did a wonderful job. And you're 2nd moment?"
(JW) "My 2nd moment and biggest moment would be winning the Jr Worlds in 2003. Since my first trip to the Jrs, I had vowed to myself to win this meet before I was no longer a Jr competitor. And the year before my last Jr Worlds I knew I could do it but had to give up everything I had to do it. That’s all I had on my mind until I competed. I was like a fanatic! I didn't know I won till I pulled my last Deadlift and I came off and Mike had told me. I had actually won after my first pull, but he didn't want to tell me so I would out pull all of them. I also knew I would have to go 9/9 in order to win; and told myself that was my goal all during training. And I did go 9/9. There was nothing like standing on the winners podium, wearing a gold medal, and hearing your National Anthem and knowing the whole time you achieved the biggest goal you ever set at the time. It felt like nothing else that I have ever done.
(JF) "Well how about some of your lowest points?"
(JW)" Well, that's a no-brainer! Bombing out at last years Women's Nationals! Coming off a win at Jr Worlds and being so wrapped up in it. I was feeling burnt out. I was mentally out of the game. Moving on with my life as far as not being in college anymore, being in the real world, and not being a Jr lifter anymore was VERY HARD adjustment".
(JF) "Who are some of your biggest influences?"
(JW) " The people that have influenced me are the ones who have trained me and coached me throughout the years. Angie and Mike Overdeer coached me for many years and are very kind and helpful and very supportive. And they taught me the sport! They traveled and helped me out over the years. Very awesome people!
Now that role has changed. Mike O'Donnell is my main support, encouragement, and motivator! Since he came around coaching me my total went up 300 lbs. and is the main reason I won Jr Worlds. He knows how I tick, and knows how to push me, and even lay off some times. And he does all the grunt work in coaching me and I could never do this sport without him. He is there for all my training and is no stranger to world competition.
Also my family is good support. They usually travel to most of my meets. They are good crowd support!"
(JF) "You mentioned that the transition from not being a Jr Lifter anymore was hard. Can you expand on that?"
(JW) "Sure, I think it’s safe to say we have seen a lot of lifters fall out of powerlifting after college life is over. Whether they realize it or not, you have a lot more time, and convenient times to lift on a schedule that is as flexible as a college schedule is. Even though I was going to school full-time and working a part-time job I still always had the time and energy that powerlifting required. Once you get a real job and get into the real world, your time is very limited. I started feeling like I wasn't sure if I had time for all this."
(JF) "What other factors come into play here?"
(JW) "I also think that for a lot of lifters (not so much myself) it is an intimidating thing to be moving into the "open classes" because some people see that they can't do quite so well at that kind of level and just feel that powerlifting is over after the collegiate years. Which is very untrue! And many collegiate teams in powerlifting (Louisiana, Texas, etc) the percentage of these people moving on to lifting open is VERY low because they see it as only a collegiate sport. So, when college is over, their lifting career is over."
(JF) "How did you deal with these issues?"
(JW) "Mine was more figuring out how powerlifting was a part of my life and changing around priorities in order to make it happen. And I am not quite sure if I have mastered that yet. I knew that powerlifting was a true passion in my life and that I was willing to sacrifice a lot of things and time in order to keep doing this.
I also think that I had to reset some goals. I focused most of my goals on what I could do as a Jr lifter because I knew they were very achievable and there was a time limit on those goals. So, I really had to sit down and think about what I wanted to do as an open lifter. So, I think that lifters need and have to re-establish their goals after moving on from their early lifting careers!"
(JF) " I want to thank you for giving us the time to share these thoughts on lifting and how it is organized in your life. We're all looking forward to seeing you on the platform again in 2005!"
Jim Ford
USAPL Coaches Committee
8/28/2004
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