The clang of plates hitting the platform reverberates through the walls of the AAC — that, as well as the blasting music, whose genre changes from class to class. Ranging from 2019 pop anthems to instrumental action movie soundtracks, the music accompanying the weight room is just as versatile as the students who fill it. Each student contributes to a living playlist of tastes, moods, and unique energy carried through every workout. Lakeside students’ hobbies, extracurriculars, and passions span a vast spectrum, and that diversity quickly caught the eye of Coach Cam throughout his first year as Lakeside’s strength coach. Before working at Lakeside, Coach Cam spent time immersed in Division 1 athletics, strength coaching at Seattle U. Throughout his coaching career, Coach Cam’s goal had always been to coach a Division 1 program. Through Seattle U, he achieved this ambition and obtained a glimpse of what coaching a professional athlete would be like. Despite its prestige and intensity, he began to question the pro-level atmosphere. “I love the training,” Coach Cam explains, “I love sharing that with people.” However, “when you reach the professional level, it’s not about teaching what you love. There is little, if any, teaching done at that point.” This is the void that separates high school and college coaching: Coach Cam’s devotion to teaching strength.
For Coach Cam, Lakeside opened the doors for a deeper sort of influence, an impact unrelated to the kilograms on a barbell or the number of sets during max week. At the professional level, students are often singularly focused on their sport and training, but at Lakeside, students are multifaceted in ways that constantly surprise him. “Here, you do well in school, you go to state basketball, you play the clarinet, you perform in the musical,” Coach Cam said admiringly. “The range is incredible.” At a school such as Lakeside, the plethora of passions is astounding, meaning that training supports more than just competition; it supports the students as a whole. The weight room embodies more than just a gym — it is a crucible where bodies grow stronger and balance is challenged. “Lakesiders don’t need help working harder,” Coach Cam states. “Instead, Lakeside is all about balance.” The strength program aligns with Lakeside’s culture — a culture that values versatility and encourages students to pursue a wide range of interests without sacrificing any of them. While the Lions’ grit is commendable, Coach Cam emphasizes the importance of recovery. Rest is crucial for strength training, and when students don’t get enough, their progress is hindered. “Yes, we work hard in the weight room,” Coach Cam explains, “but we don’t get stronger in the weight room.” Instead, he clarifies that “we get stronger when we rest and recover.” This prioritization of recovery shifts the narrative from simply a strong work ethic to caring for our bodies and minds; in other words, balance is critical.
For Coach Cam, Lakeside’s strength program is a place where every student’s story is complex, and each day in class reflects that complexity. As his first year at Lakeside wraps up, he isn’t simply producing stronger athletes, but rather enhancing Lakeside’s program as a whole. Through the appreciation of weight training, he is constructing a community where strength is defined by grit, balance, and belonging. Building upon a path paved by Rick Huegli, Lakeside’s previous strength coach, Coach Cam is crafting a space where every student has a place in the weight room.