Tinley Park HS's McNulty Holds National Powerlifting Records

Tinley Park High School junior, Katie McNulty, may look like an everyday American teenager, but behind her amazing curls and friendly smile, this Titan is a powerhouse of strength. Katie currently holds National Records in powerlifting in the teen 165lb weight class for squat, bench, and deadlift. Katie explains, “I love powerlifting because it’s a sport you do not find a lot of girls doing and because it is not the average sport you see people participating in.” Katie says that her dad is the person who motivated her to start lifting. “He is my biggest motivator and I look up to him when it comes to most things, but especially lifting. He’s the strongest guy I know!” During meet prep, Katie is at the gym six days a week for two hours each day. She performs scheduled workouts made by her dad in order to achieve her goals at competition. Katie is on a strict diet for 12 weeks prior to a competition in order to maintain the perfect body weight. Her diet does not allow her to eat any carbohydrates and she eats small meals every two hours. TPHS Physical Education teachers, Mrs. Andrea Johnson and Mrs. Cassie Gaines, are incredibly impressed by Katie’s talent and dedication. During their Junior Leadership and Strength and Conditioning classes, they invited her to demonstrate her skills for her peers. According to Ms. Johnson, “She explained the difference between conventional deadlift and sumo deadlift, breaking down the technique, providing demonstrations, and then worked as a small group coach assisting the students with their form.” Katie’s current max weights are 155 pounds bench, 305 pounds for squat and 330.7 pounds for deadlift. Katie says, “I love the fact that I inspire girls and shock other people by showing them what I can do.”