Napoleon, MI. – At the end of July, Napoleon Pirates’ future sophomore Halston Snellenberger was in the weight room on a mission. The young multi-sport athlete was surrounded by many supporters and football teammates cheering him on as he prepared to try to break his school’s squat record.
Halston grabbed onto the bar, gritted his teeth, and ground out his muscles as his supporters cheered on and watched him squat 545 pounds, setting the school record to the cheers of the onlookers.
The former record was 525 pounds set a few years back by a senior at the time named Dallas Smith, who is now wrestling in college at Adrian. Smith was also one of the people who really introduced Halston to high school sports and lifting.
Halston says he has been interested in sports and playing sports since he could walk. His family’s always been very into sports, and his older brother was a good football and basketball player for Jackson Lumen Christi, and he grew up watching him in the stands. So sports have always been a big part of his competitive family.
Halston participates in football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, and powerlifting. He also has lettered for marching band for playing baritone saxophone. He has also been the class president for the class of 2029, his graduating class, for 3 consecutive years and is also skilled academically, as he is a proud member of the National Honor Society. His favorite sport to play is definitely football. He’s been playing it since he was 5 years old. He grew up around the game because his dad was a high school varsity coach for 17 years, and my brother loved the sport.
Halston has been lifting weights since 6th grade. Weightlifting has been a game changer for him also. Sports mean a lot to him, as it has taught him lots of valuable lessons over the years. He loves to try to beat school records, but he really just wants to try to beat his own records every single day. His loving, supportive parents have always taught him that it’s very valuable to set goals for himself and not compare himself to other people.
Halston, as a 7th grader, placed 7th, total weight (985 pounds), competing on Junior Varsity in States at the Michigan High School Powerlifting Association(MHSPA). In the 8th grade (1220 pounds), he finished 2nd at the State Powerlifting Association, and in the 9th grade (1285 pounds) he placed 3rd in states. The combined weight totals are Squat, bench, and deadlift.
“I plan on doing my best always and want to try to beat and set records,” Halston stated.
Halston sends out a huge thank you to his parents, Everett and Tiffany Snellenberger. They are very proud of him and very supportive. Some upperclassmen have really made an impact on him as a freshman last year, and he is very thankful for those teammates. And he also thanks all the people who have supported him throughout the major journeys in life, like his sisters, Breklyn and Timery, and his grandma, Debbie, who are always there to cheer him on.
