Olympic Lifts and Athlete Success: Jon Dawson

Hello Everyone!

Jon Dawson was one of the first athletes to join AGSP back in 2007 when the Stow facility first opened. Jon started training at AGSP to become a faster, stronger, and more powerful football player for Green High School.

As part of his training Jon learned how to perform the Olympic Lifts which are the Clean and Jerk and the Snatch. We teach all of our athletes these lifts because they develop power, speed, strength, coordination, and confidence.

Jon Dawson's 2nd Snatch attempt at a recent lifting event.

Jon has become passionate about the Olympic Lifts and has continued his athletic career as a competitive weight lifter. Since learning the right way to lift at AGSP he is now on the path to becoming one of Ohio's greatest Olympic Weightlifters. He has already broken state records and is gaining a lot of attention in the weightlifting world.

Check out this video of Jon in action at the recent http://youtu.be/t3GfMQ6DVIs


We are excited for Jon and wish him continued success as he pursues his Olympic dream. As our slogan goes, "there are no shortcuts to athletic success!" Through hard-work and doing things right, athletes like Jon become successful!

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance 

Advice from a D1 Football Player

Hello Everyone!

At AGSP we are under the same roof as Akron General's physical therapists and award-winning rec center, Lifestyles. All the departments share each others resources and recently as a 5:30 pm group was headed back into the weight room, a physical therapy patient, who is also a Division One football player, was finishing his prescribed exercises (he's so strong he needed to use our sports performance weight room).

Akron General Sports Performance, physical therapy, and Lifestyles are all under the same roof!

Putting him on the spot I asked him in front of the 5:30 pm group, "knowing what you know now, what advice would you give these aspiring athletes?"

His honest answer was more powerful than I could of imagined. He said,

• "Take care of your grades. I didn't and lost my opportunity at a Big Ten Football Program. Because of my grades I had to leave and start anew at a Mid-Atlantic Conference school. 
• If you take care of the weight room, you'll be further ahead than most athletes. 
• When you get older you'll realize that most of the time your parents and coaches were actually right. So make sure you're respectful and listen to them.
• Don't follow along with your friends/teammates if they're doing something you know isn't good for you. It's hard to think now, but when you're in college your high school friends and teammates may not be there. If you have athletic dreams, do what you know is best to fulfill those dreams." 

The honest humility and wisdom this Division One football player shared with us (people he doesn't know at all) was incredible. I felt this great advice is something every athlete should hear!

Keep Training!
Coach Amanda Kephart and Akron General Sports Performance