During her years at Vernon Middle School, Kamryn Hall participated in volleyball, basketball and track, but in her own words, “I was big and slow. I was just there.” As she headed into her freshman year at Vernon High School, her plan was to stick with volleyball, her favorite of the three sports.
However, a conversation with VMS coach Sally Reeves during the fall semester of her freshman year proved to be life-changing for Hall, who signed her letter of intent to attend Friends University in Wichita, Kan., on a powerlifting scholarship on Wednesday.
“Kam struggled in Middle School. She really didn’t like school, athletics or me,” Reeves told those attending Hall’s signing ceremony with a laugh. “But, after they asked me to take over coaching girls’ powerlifting as we started Kam’s freshman year, I knew she was one of the girls I wanted to talk to.”
Hall, the daughter of Anthony and Ashley Hall, decided to give powerlifting a try and she’s almost lived in the weight room ever since. She advanced to the State Tournament as a freshman and finished 12th. As a sophomore, Hall took seventh at the State Tournament, and last year she medaled at State, taking the Silver medal.
“I like that it is an individual sport, but is also a team sport,” the senior explained. “I like the competitiveness of it. You’re competing against the other lifters, but you’re also competing against the weight in front of you. I like the feeling when I step up to the bar. There’s pressure, but it’s a good pressure.”
As Hall has continued to improve during her high school career, the girls’ powerlifting program has continued to grow. There were four girls in the program her freshman year, 14 her sophomore year, 32 last year, and this year there are 43 girls.
“Kam’s smile just lights up a room,” Reeves said. “She’s helped bring girls into the program and is a great role model.”
Coach Nathan Stinson, who helps both Reeves and boys’ powerlifting coach Edwin Bah, echoed Reeves’ sentiment.
“To grow by almost 40 girls in 4 years, that’s just Kam drawing girls to the program,” he said. “She’s had a lot of influence on getting girls into the program and she’s showed them the right way to go about practice and competing. She’s helped build a program to be proud of.”
Bah told the group he knows first-hand about Hall’s work ethic and determination.
“Powerlifting season runs from December to March, but during football season every morning at 5 a.m., Kam was in the weight room. And, she always had a smile,” Bah said. “Kam is a testament that hard work works. She puts in the work to be successful. She has applied herself and this year she is going to shock the world.”
In powerlifting there are two divisions – equipped and unequipped. Equipped uses specialized, supportive gear (like squat suits, bench shirts) that creates a “spring” effect, allowing lifters to handle significantly heavier weights. Unequipped powerlifting relies on natural strength with minimal gear for safety purposes (belt, sleeves and wraps) and focuses on pure human power.
Hall competed in the equipped division her freshman and sophomore year, but when high school powerlifting approved the unequipped division, she made the move to that division. Most powerlifting meets will have an equipped division and an unequipped division for each weight class, but at the Lady Lions’ last meet in Perryton, all the lifters were in one division. Hall still finished second in her weight class.
Last summer, Hall traveled to Atlanta to compete in the USA Powerlifters National Championships and claimed first place in her weight class in the Unequipped Division. Her personal best lifts are 380 pounds for Squat, 170 pounds for Bench Press, and 380 pounds for Deadlift. For those doing the math, that’s 930 pounds, and puts her just 70 pounds away from reaching the elusive 1,000-pound Club.
“That’s one of my goals this year,” she said. “I want to win at State, win at Nationals again, and join the 1,000-pound Club. I’m already a little excited and nervous for next year. I really liked the coach at Friends.”
At the letter signing ceremony, Vernon ISD Athletic Director Kevin Sherrill said Hall has always done a great job of representing Vernon.
“I’m glad Kam is going to be able to take that competitive desire to the next level,” he said. “I’m proud of our powerlifting program and it’s been an honor having Kam out in front of it. Friends University is not only getting a great athlete, they’re getting a great kid too.”