OVERCOMING THE ODDS
THRALL — Two pulled muscles during baseball season and two more during track, one which halted his powerlifting career. This was a reality for Thrall senior Hayden Heselmeyer, who was diagnosed with scoliosis in eighth grade.
His back brace, which he used his freshman and sophomore year, caused a constant strain. But it was the only alternative to surgery.
“Once I finally was able to take the brace off it was definitely a relief,” Heselmeyer said. “So although it was a long two years, in the end it still felt worth it.”
He proved to be right. Four years after his diagnosis, Heselmeyer earned a gold medal in the Class 3A State Powerlifting Championship on March 22. He lifted a total of 1,835 pounds to claim the title in the 220-pound weight class.
The path to his state championship wasn’t linear for Heselmeyer. After not competing his sophomore year, he was hesitant to return to the sport.
“Junior year, Coach [Brandon] Raesz came up to me and said I should give it another shot,” Heselmeyer said. “With a little convincing from him, and some of my friends, I decided to get back into it.”
After Heselmeyer placed fourth at state his junior year, Raesz realized he had the potential to win it all.
“As a coach for 18 years, I knew this moment would be very special because just getting to the state level is very hard; yet trying to win state is a task that only a few are able to do,” Raesz said. “Knowing that I had a chance to coach an athlete all the way to the top was one of the most remarkable feelings ever.”
When the 2025 powerlifting season began in January, coach Cindy Knapek realized he was within 100 pounds of the best 3A lifter in the state.
“Hayden was having perfect meets, meaning he was getting all nine of his lifts at every meet,” Knapek said. “This told us that he hadn’t hit his max, and that he still had more to give.”
At the state meet, Heselmeyer squatted 740 pounds, a new personal record. He attributes this feat to the knee wraps he received from volunteer coach, Trace Lopez.
“Last year, I always had Luke [Pearson] wrap my knees for squat but since he graduated I needed someone else,” Heselmeyer said. “At the first meet, Coach Lopez offered to wrap me, and it was great. Needless to say I let him wrap me for the rest of the year.”
After bench pressing 460 pounds, the final lift to complete was deadlift. Heselmeyer was in fourth place, 60 pounds behind the top lifter.
“Everyone around that platform had their eyes on Hayden because a clean lift meant he would be the state champion,” Knapek said. “ I think everyone’s hearts were beating out of their chest with anticipation for the lift. Hayden walked up to the bar, got set, and then crushed it! Hayden made 635 pounds look easy.”
During that final lift, Hayden said he will never forget seeing the three white lights signaling he’d solidified the win.
“I give thanks to God, the coaches, my family, and my friends,” Heselmeyer said. “Our coaches really prepared me for every meet. There wasn’t one moment at the state meet where someone wasn’t asking how I was doing which means a lot.”
His coaches describe Heselmeyer as “a humble, dedicated athlete with a supreme work ethic; a coach’s dream.”
“There were times when he didn’t feel good, or his body ached, but he always found a way to get his workout finished and wanted to out work his opponents,” Raesz said. “He is relentless.”
