Megan Poole
ETSU student places third in national weightlifting competition
JOHNSON CITY (August 26, 2014) – East Tennessee State University student Megan Poole recently brought home a third-place medal from the Senior National Championships event in weightlifting, held in Salt Lake City.
Poole is a scholarship recipient with the Olympic Training Site at ETSU and trains under Dr. Satoshi Mizuguchi, an assistant professor of Exercise and Sport Science in the Clemmer College of Education.
“Satoshi has been the most influential person in my career because he pushes me every day to become a better athlete and a better person,” Poole said. “I have never had such an awesome coach who not only helps me keep my focus in the weight room, but encourages me to be the best I can be in all aspects of my life.”
Poole began weightlifting in 2008 while in high school. Since then, she placed at several national championships, including two first-place and two second-place titles at the National Junior Championships during 2010-2013; two second-place medals at the American Open Championships; and a first-place finish at the University National Championships, which was held in Johnson City in 2013.
She also participated at two international events, the Pan-American Championships and the Junior World Championships.
Poole is studying exercise science at ETSU and hopes to enter a physical therapy program and become a pediatric physical therapist. Her dream is to compete in the 2016 Olympic trials and the 2020 Olympic Games.
ETSU was designated as an official U.S. Olympic Training Site for weightlifting in 2012. The center is also a training site for the USA Canoe and Kayak slalom teams.