Page 31 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 147

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #147 April 2025 31

Diary of a Weightlifter - For the Love of Training Continued from page 12

“I love all the guys on the team, the
By Thorin Gault ery few people are cut out of the provincial, national or energy they bring, and the memories
Vfor the sport of weightlifting. international competitions. we share. We also have incredibly
Weightlifters spend hundreds of
While I will miss the crucible knowledgeable and patient coaches
hours training for literally seconds
of competition and most of all who always have something new
on the competition platform. I
connecting with my weightlifting to teach us, or another trick up their
competed twice in 2024. That is a friends from around the country sleeves,” Caleb shared. “I’d like to
total of 12 competitions lifts.
and globe, I am kind of looking thank all our coaches and support
To last in this sport, you must forward to it. staff for being the ones who make
love to train. You must love all this possible. Without them, we
Why?
the struggle when nobody else wouldn’t be able to step on that
is watching. You must love I can focus even more on my field and keep doing what we love.”
competing with only yourself on training. Without a competition to Being part of the Wildcats family
a daily basis. You must be almost prepare for I will have more time is something that Caleb’s entire
completely self motivated. to really work on what needs to family has embraced over the
be improved. Without a need to years.
As it turns out, life physically peak at a specific time,
circumstances have led me to I can dial in on some weaknesses “My entire family has been heavily
decide to not compete in the 2025 involved with the Wildcats from
that can potentially take me to the the beginning, and we’ve all been
masters competitive season. For next level.
the first time in over a decade part of this journey together. Our
I will not be competing in any Time to grind. lives practically revolve around
football, and it really brings us
together,” said Caleb. “The bond
Continued from page 15 playing. memory so far with the Jr. C Celtics this team and everyone involved
has to be my first home game as a
father Steve Tait, Jason Rudge, Darcy “I graduated junior lacrosse and has is such an amazing thing to see
Belyea, and Jason Tasse, just to name joined the Celtics bench staff the coach. It was the 2023 season, and and experience, and I couldn’t be
a few. I believe that I owed it to people very next season, so I had plenty of we were playing the Nepean Knights prouder to call myself a Wildcat.”
like them to give back to the sport ex-teammates and good friends still at the Benson Centre in front of our As the Wildcats program continues
and try to have a positive influence playing at the time. Trying to remain home crowd,” said Tait. “Growing to grow, core players have begun
on the next wave of athletes.” friendly and likable while still being up playing for both Cornwall and aging out of the program while
able to have their respect and attention Gloucester, there had been some talented new athletes have joined
Tait emphasizes his approach to pretty good rivalries started with
coaching, which is built on experience when needed was something I really Nepean, and on paper, they were the team. Caleb said that last season
and understanding. had to focus on,” said Tait. most certainly supposed to win the gave them the opportunity to learn
Among the lessons Tait carries game. We ended up pulling off the how to utilize and get to know their
“As a coach, I find myself trying newest athletes while building
to connect with my athletes through with him, one piece of advice stands upset and winning the game 10-8. It those strong bonds and welcoming
my own playing experiences and out. felt pretty special at the time, being them to the Wildcats family.
make positive teaching moments out “One piece of coaching and life able to get the win in our first home
of negative experiences. At any level advice I’ll always remember is that game of the season as an underdog, “My goal for this season is
athletes are going to make mistakes, you can only get as much as you against a team that has turned into to perfect my knowledge and
so that’s not the issue, it’s more about give, so in order to have your athletes a pretty competitive rivalry over the execution, paying attention to all
learning from those mistakes so we respect you, you have to give them last few seasons.” the little details of play style, and
can have a better outcome the next the same treatment,” said Tait. It’s incredible to see the lasting perfecting them,” said Caleb. “I
time,” said Tait. impact coaches like Tait have, from also aim to take on a bigger role
Reflecting on his favourite and be as welcoming and helpful
“One of the biggest challenges he coaching memory, Tait recalls a their years playing to giving back to as I can to all the newcomers in our
has faced in his coaching role has standout moment from the 2023 the game through coaching. We look program to help them also exceed
been balancing his friendships with season. forward to seeing his dedication to expectations and be where they
former teammates who were still the game continue through the next
“I think my favourite coaching need to be.”
generation of athletes.