Throughout the history of football players at that have come through Millennium, records have been set, broken, and some have stood the test of time. But one MHS linebacker has made history by becoming the strongest player in a designated lift.

Inside Millennium’s weight room is a record board that shows the players of the past and the iron they’ve pumped. Blood, sweat, and tears go into every weight room, and the players’ hard work and dedication is evident by the immortalization of their names on the board.

 Each lift and skill activity (bench, clean, 40 yard dash, etc.) has several records specific to each weight class, so there are many records to break depending on your weight.

Setting the record in your weight class is a huge accomplishment in its own right; however breaking the all-time record and knowing no one else has done it before you is a statement. James Dopson, a senior linebacker, wanted to make such a statement and leave his mark on the board forever.

“When I maxed out at 290 my junior year, I broke a previous record of 285. I knew the highest power clean in Millennium history was 305 so I wanted to beat it and lift the most weight,” says Dopson. “I’m extremely competitive and strive to be the best at things I’m passionate about [and] lifting is one of those passions.”

The linebacker has had his sights set on the power clean lift since he walked into the weight room and he couldn’t have picked a more beneficial lift to master.

The power clean lift is often regarded as one of the most complete and all-around beneficial lifts for a football player to master. It utilizes back, legs, glutes, and arms in a complete synchronization of muscles to help lift the weight, catch it, and stand up.

“The clean is an important lift for athletes because it is such an explosive lift that mimics athletic movement,” says strength and conditioning coach Derek Drumtra. “The ground reaction forces and the instantaneous rate of force development that the clean creates, develops amore efficient and explosive athlete that will transfer to the court or field.”

Earlier in the week, Dopson felt like it was now or never and decided to put his hard training and preparation to the test as he attempted to set a new all-time record. The class huddled around the All-American strength and conditioning athlete and watched as history unfolded.

 “Once I racked it I knew I had it. I just exhaled and exerted all my strength into standing up with the weight upon my shoulders,” says Dopson. “Power clean is as technical and mental as it is a physical lift. I knew I would get the weight, so I did.”

The clean record had been broken by an impressive ten pound margin and 315 lbs was the new pinnacle. No one in Millennium history had ever lifted that much weight in that lift, ever. The record that Dopson managed to break had stood the test of many challengers for over seven years, so it’s a good guess that the name of James Dopson will stay up on the “Wall of Greats” for years to come.

The video of the lift is at this web address.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXeBpYUi-oM