Already third in the nation for powerlifting, Dakota Courtright came to nationals aiming for first. But because of miscommunication over the weight class policy, Courtright was seven pounds out of her weight group. The competition was hosted on September 22, in Las Vegas, Nevada by World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF).
Being the first time Courtright attended nationals, her trainer didn’t know of the weight policy, allowing the miscommunication to occur.
Usually, competitions allow the competitor to compete in the weight class they fall in. This was not the case. In order to compete, Courtright had to lose seven pounds in one day. Not wishing to let her five months of preparation go to waste, Courtright did not eat or drink, did hours of cardio, and spent a total of six hours in a sauna.
“It was easily, easily one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Easily,” Courtright said.
By the time Courtright was weighed at Westgate Hotel, where nationals was hosted, she was half a pound out of her weight class.
Making an exception, WRPF allowed Courtright to lift as a guest, but she received no awards or records for her lifting.
“I wouldn’t say it’s common, but it happens,” Elkhorn districts’ powerlifting coach Kyle Nadrchal said. “When you’re preparing for a competition, especially at the national level, you’ve got to have all your t ‘s crossed and all your i’s dotted. . . I have no doubt that she’s not going to let that happen again.”
While Courtright received no medals, she lifted 157 for bench, 330 for squat, and achieved a new personal best for deadlift with 363. All of which would have beat the current records, putting Courtright first nationally in many categories for her weight class.
“Wow,” Courtright’s lunchmate freshman Jade Young said. “It’s dumb. It really sucks.”
Courtright wasn’t completely satisfied with her performance. She felt she could’ve maxed out with her bench, and even added 20 to her squat. With her new deadlift PR, she tried to add 10, but just couldn’t lift it.
“I got in my head,” Courtright said. “You really need to not think about the weight on the bar. You just need to think about getting it up. Think about how after you’re going to feel.”
It was 2020 in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic when Courtright’s mom, a former competitive powerlifter, brought her to the gym one day for fun. Courtright was only 11, but her mom’s trainer saw her potential.
“I had no idea what it was,” Courtright said. “At first I was really scared to do it, but after some further convincing, I decided to, and now I want to do it for probably the rest of my life.”
Courtright believes powerlifting is largely mental.
“You just really, really learn from the people in there,” Courtright said. “Your body is so much stronger than you think it is, and your mind is always the one to give up first, not your body.”
The learning aspect is Courtright’s favorite thing in powerlifting.
“You learn something new every single time you go to the gym,” Courtright said. “Learning new exercises you never thought were a thing, and they move different muscles in your body that you’ve never moved before.”
Although Courtright is an experienced lifter, she is still a part of the school’s new powerlifting team which started this fall. It includes Elkhorn High, Elkhorn North, and Elkhorn South high schools.
Among the amateurs and students wishing to fill up their schedule between sports, Dakota is a standout.
“She’s got a natural talent,” Nadrchal said. “It reminds me of an old teammate that I had who went on to break countless world records. . . I think that Dakota has that potential, I really do.”
Courtright plans on attending the same competition again next year, intending to bring back some national records this time. She doesn’t have any other powerlifting competition she plans on attending, but don’t believe she’ll be taking it easy. Courtright will continue spending around 12 hours a week at the gym.
She’ll start preparing for nationals in April, knowing the best way to build strength is a patient, gradual process.
“I think her ceiling – She’s not even close to it yet,” Nadrchal said. “She’s going to end up being super strong.”
