BY GENE NARDI
2016 Wellington High School graduate Alex Brosseau has committed to Lindenwood University to pursue weightlifting.
Brosseau recently won the state weightlifting title in the 219-pound weight class with a combined weight of 740 pounds in the bench press and clean and jerk lift. Brosseau swept through Palm Beach County competition, winning first place in the district meet with a 710-pound total. He later shattered his rivals in the regional meet, taking first place as well, also with 710 pounds.
“It feels pretty good to have your name up on the banner in the gym as a state champion,” Brosseau said.
Brosseau began lifting competitively as a freshman for the Wolverines, and decided to take it more seriously in his sophomore year, when he qualified for the state tournament and placed 10th overall.
“I became more passionate about weightlifting in my junior year because I qualified for states,” Brosseau said.
In his junior year, he moved up, placing sixth overall at the state meet. It was then that Brosseau knew a state title could be attainable. He continued training in the gym, reminding himself of his goal each day. In addition to winning the state title his senior year, Brosseau also set a new state record with a 375-pound clean and jerk lift during the state meet.
Brosseau also played football for the Wolverines and was first team all-conference at middle linebacker. He contemplated accepting one of his offers to play football in college, but then realized that his passion for weightlifting was much greater.
“I knew that I could compete in weightlifting much longer than I could play football,” he said. “Lindenwood is one of the only universities with a competitive team that is connected with Team USA.”
Brosseau emphasized his desire to compete at the national level, which made his selection to attend Lindenwood an easy one.
The Lions are known as a weightlifting power in the NCAA Division II, and have an 84-member coed team. “The coaches are the real deal,” Brosseau said. “The coaches are recognized representatives for Team USA, and it would be awesome to qualify to compete at the national level for them.”
Brosseau had several options on the table and could have gone in any direction, but his goal was clear to compete nationally in the sport of weightlifting.
“My goal right now is to compete and qualify for the national team,” said Brosseau, who looks forward to attending college in Missouri. “I want to go to school out of state because I can focus on my goal with little or no distractions.”
Brosseau explained that in college, they categorize lifters in kilograms, not pounds. He said he will most likely occupy the 94-kilogram weight class, which is equivalent to 207 pounds, so expects to shed a few pounds to make weight.
Brosseau will begin his new journey in July and elected to study business at the university while he trains to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming an Olympic weightlifter.
Wellington High School weightlifter Alex Brosseau focuses on the barbell and weight he is about to lift at the regional tournament.
ABOVE: Wellington’s Alex Brosseau lifts 375 pounds in the clean and jerk event.
