California Strength was well represented in the 2012 NFL Playoffs. Both of the athletes that we trained before the 2011 NFL Combine, Ryan Whalen and Jeff Maehl, got their first taste of the postseason in their rookie years with their respective teams, the Cincinnati Bengals and Houtson Texans. The two met in the first round of the playoffs, with the Texans eeking out the win in Houston over the Bengals, which came in as a wild card team. The future is bright for both of these guys, and hopefully both of their young teams will be regulars in the postseason for years to come!

Jeff Maehl, who did his NFL Combine training at California Strength, was added to the active roster for the Houston Texans this week. The former University of Oregon standout was picked up as an Undrafted Free Agent by the Houston Texans during the offseason, and had been playing on the practice squad until he got the call. At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, IN, Jeff broke the all-time record for the 3-Cone drill with a blistering time of 6.42 seconds.

Houston Texans WR, Jeff Maehl

Monte Vista QB and Cal Strength Trainee, Jeff Lockie, was awarded the Most Valuable Player award for the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL). The EBAL is one of the most competitive leagues in the entire country and sends numerous players every year to Division I programs all over the US. Lockie, who is headed to the University of Oregon next year, beat out fellow Cal Strength Trainee, San Ramon Valley QB Zach Kline who is headed to Cal, and De La Salle QB Bart Houston who is headed to the University of Wisconsin.

EBAL MVP, Jeff Lockie

Long-time California Strength Trainee, Zach Kline, was just named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of California, an extremely prodigious honor. Combined with his Top 5 finish at the Elite 11, and invitation to play in the Under Armour All-American Game, Zach is now officially one of the most decorated football players in the entire country. Here is the official Press Release from Gatorade:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Ashley Ginascol (312-729-3622)

SAN RAMON VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED GATORADE® CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO (December 1, 2011) — In its 27th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes,, The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPNHS, today announced Zach Kline of San Ramon Valley High School as its 2011-12 Gatorade California Football Player of the Year.  Kline is the first Gatorade California Football Player of the Year to be chosen from San Ramon Valley High School.  The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Kline as California’s best high school football player.  Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award announced in December, Kline joins an elite alumni association of past state award-winners in 12 sports, including Mark Sanchez (2004-05, Mission Viejo HS, Calif.), Wes Welker (1999-00, Heritage Hall HS, Okla.), Terrell Suggs (1999-00, Hamilton HS, Ariz.), Anquan Boldin (1998-99, Pahokee HS, Fla.) and Jerome Bettis (1989-90, Mackenzie HS, Mich.).The 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior quarterback has led the Wolves to a 9-3 record and a berth in the CIF North Coast Section Division I semifinals against Monte Vista High, scheduled for Dec. 3. Kline passed for 3,079 yards and 32 touchdowns, completing 195-of-289 attempts while throwing just six interceptions through 12 games. A 2012 U.S. Army All-American, he was also an ESPNHS Elite 11 Quarterback Camp invitee.Kline has maintained a 3.28 GPA in the classroom. A devoted member of his church community, he has volunteered locally as an elementary school guest speaker and on behalf of Locks of Love, a non-profit organization which provides hairpieces for financially disadvantaged children suffering from medical hair loss.“Zach Kline is an outstanding quarterback with limitless potential and the desire to be the best he can be,” said San Ramon Valley High head coach Mark Kessler. “His work ethic is relentless and he always finds time to improve.” Kline has verbally committed to play football on an athletic scholarship at the University of California beginning in the fall of 2012.The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by ESPNHS and the Gatorade high school sports leadership team, which work with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport. Kline joins recent Gatorade California Football Players of the Year Cody Kessler (2010-11, Centennial High School) Malcolm Jones (2009-10, Oaks Christian School), Ryan Kasdorf (2008-09, Notre Dame High School) and Matt Barkley(2007-08, Mater Dei) among the state’s list of former award winners.To keep up to date on the latest happenings, become a fan of Gatorade Player of the Year on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a complete list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com.

The American Open Championship event is this December 2-4th, and the California Strength Team is well represented. We are sending Donny Shankle, Jon North, Kevin Cornell, Rob Blackwell, Lindsay Taylor, and of course Coach Glenn Pendlay is heading out as well.

We are told there will be a live webcast of the event here

http://weightlifting.sportzcast.tv/

Check out the live stream webcast for the Don Wilson Golden West Open, being hosted at California Strength this weekend!

http://www.californiaweightlifting.org/live.php

Somewhere in here is an American record attempted barefoot and barely missed behind…

It’s over, and although it was fun, I couldn’t have taken much more! End results… Jon and Donny made the Pan-Am games team, Donny also made the the World Championship team. Kevin made huge PR lifts in both snatch and clean and jerk within 94kg weight class. Spencer took a very credible shot at a new American record 204kg clean and jerk. Jessica made competition PR’s in snatch, clean and jerks, and total. Jo Ann continues on her come-back from shoulder surgery. Even though you always want one more kilo, Realistically I couldnt ask for a better weekend or competition. Here are the National Champions themselves…

We are all in Iowa… the boys are sleeping. No pictures today but it should be an interesting day tomorrow.

yeah, some stuff has happened in the last few days. Want to again give a shout out to US Cryotherapy and Kelly Starrett for their HUGE support of us leading up to this years nationals…

Sneak peek of whats been going on, here is Jon snatching 161kg weighing about 93.5kg… and, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!!!