Over Spring Break, kinesiology student Anthony Rogers traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, to present his scholarly work at the National Shape America Conference. An accomplishment and experience that not many people Rogers’s age get to experience.
“I was pretty honored. I found out I was doing research at a higher level than I guess most other students go to. I got asked multiple times if I was in graduate school or in master’s study or doctorates even, which is kind of nice and with that, I felt honored to share my work in such a way that people are interested in,” Rogers said.
Dr. Lorraine Killion has been by Rogers’s side throughout the long hours of research regarding his subject – powerlifting.
“It’s been kind of a challenge because when he came to me with this topic which was powerlifting, I told him I don’t know anything about powerlifting, so he took me to some powerlifting events and we went and talked to some powerlifting coaches at some of the local schools to familiarize me with it so when he did his research I did as well because I’m a runner myself so I knew nothing about powerlifting,” Dr. Killion said.
Roger’s studies aim to show how much of a difference using a squat suit while powerlifting makes. Student Klayton Meeks said this study can be beneficial in truly understanding the positive effects powerlifting with gear can have for lifters, allowing them to push themselves to their limits and get the most out of each set.
Rogers follows in the footsteps of multiple other students who have been able to succeed at a high level and present their work at the national conference.
“This is my third time to have students accepted into nationals. The first one didn’t get to go because of Covid so we had to present with a Zoom presentation which was kind of a letdown for him. But I like to see students do research, obviously all of us do, but when they can present at another level besides just local, like state. Anthony presented his first research project at the state conference and placed second place, which now makes A&M Kingsville represented as well,” Dr. Killion said.
Rogers understands the importance of this research.
“I’m very proud of what I do. It’s something that I’m obviously very passionate about. I couldn’t do something I wouldn’t be passionate about; I’d get bored too easily in a sense so I take really deep pride in the way I was taught to do research and present it to other people,” Rogers said.