Of the nearly 130 athletes that competed in this weekend’s USA Weightlifting National Collegiate and 23 and Under Championships, 12 lifters were 16-years-old or younger.

Dennis Snethen, President of U.S.A. Weightlifting and director of Wesley Weightlifting Club in St. Joseph, Mo., said it’s not uncommon for athletes to start weightlifting at an early age, and he runs a program for young teenagers to introduce them to the sport.

One of the 20 lifters Snethen brought with him was 16-year-old Erly Polk Jr. The 5’8″ 225 lbs. lifter is a sophomore at Benton High School (St. Joseph, Mo.) and competes at the 105 kilogram (231 lbs.) weight class.

“We teach a lot of basics and things that will be fun,” Snethen said. “Erly is a very, very talented youngster. He’s a bright star for the future.”

Most of Snethen’s younger athletes compete at lower weight classes, he said, but Polk, who competes in the second highest weight class, is an exception for Snethen.

“Usually, bigger kids that are younger take longer to develop,” Snethen said.

Snethen said bigger children don’t always have the endurance that lighter lifters have.

“Lighter guys usually get the rewards at a younger age,” Snethen said. “It’s easy to get discouraged but when they get there, they’re very good.”

But Polk is already feeling the rewards, despite being just a sophomore.

Polk took fourth at the 105-kilogram weight class, Sunday, despite being three years younger than any other competitor in his class. Although he is younger than the other lifters he said he isn’t intimidated by the competition.

“(Erly) is like the new kid on the block. He’s earning his stripes,” Snethen said. “Beginning to lift with older guys is how you get experience, and he’s learning to compete at a higher level.”

Polk started lifting when he was in seventh grade and played basketball before taking up weightlifting.

“My older brother used to lift, and I thought I’d just try something different,” Polk said.

Certainly, it was different for Polk. And, he can sum it up in one word.

“Hectic,” Polk said. “I train everyday except Sunday.”

While training and competing keep Polk busy, he enjoys the travel opportunities weightlifting has provided. Polk has competed in New Jersey, Vermont, Kansas, Minnesota and Chicago and said that his final goal is to compete in the Olympics.

“That’s the ultimate goal for all of our kids is to make the Olympics,” Snethen said. “But, we’re not just happy going; we want to win.”