Grace’s Elusive Community of Fitness Enthusiasts
Media provided by Miranda Chao Hwang ’24
Although health and fitness is an integral part of many a Grace student’s life, the community of “gym rats” at Grace often goes unseen.
At The Gazette, we feel it’s important to highlight these students’ accomplishments and illuminate a community that few know about. After all, lifting hundreds of pounds is no small feat!
The Gazette interviewed several of Grace’s elusive gymrats to spotlight their fitness achievements.
Name: Adrian Halberg
Gymrat age: 2.5 years
Bench PR: 225 lbs
Deadlift PR: 355 lbs
Squat PR: 285 lbs
Estimated protein consumed per day: 135 grams
Gym motivation: Health, power, and sports (waterpolo)
Favorite fitness influencer: Jay Cutler
Favorite exercise: Bench
Ultimate fitness goal: To be a college athlete
Favorite meals: Chipotle double steak bowl and Juice Generation’s protein knockout smoothie; meal prep: chicken breast, mixed veggies, rice
Favorite source of protein: “A good ribeye”
Gym days per week: 5-6x
Name: Cyrus Mailer
Gymrat age: 7 months
Bench PR: 165 lbs
Deadlift PR: 250 lbs
Squat PR: 225 lbs
Estimated protein consumed per day: 140 grams
Gym motivation: Aesthetics and strength
Favorite fitness influencer: Noel Deyzel
Favorite exercise: Hip thrusts, max of 225lbs
Ultimate fitness goal: 405 deadlift, 315 squat, 225 bench
Favorite meal: Chili
Favorite source of protein: Protein shakes, beans (he’s vegan!!)
Gym days per week: 5x
Name: Press MacDonald
Bench PR: 205 lbs
Deadlift PR: 405 lbs
Squat PR: 315 lbs
Estimated protein consumed per day: “not enough”
Motivation for going to the gym: sports (baseball), strength
Favorite fitness influencer/bodybuilder: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Favorite exercise: incline bench
Ultimate fitness goal: to become stronger, but not too bulky (for sports reasons)
Favorite meals: His mom’s food
Favorite source of protein: buffalo wings, steak
How many times do you go to the gym per week?: 3-4 times
Name: Andrew Pettker
Bench PR: 185 lbs
Deadlift PR: 315 lbs
Squat PR: 305 lbs
Estimated protein consumed per day: over 70 grams
Motivation for going to the gym: aesthetics and strength, “mental happiness”
Favorite fitness influencer/bodybuilder: Tren Twins
Favorite exercise: bench press
Ultimate fitness goal: to bench 405 lbs
Favorite meals: eggs, chicken and rice, steak, burgers
Favorite source of protein: beef
How many times do you go to the gym per week?: 3-5 times
Name: Keredin Samuel
Gymrat age: around 3 years
Bench PR: 230 lbs
Deadlift PR: 200 lbs
Squat PR: 212 lbs
Estimated protein consumed per day: 60-80 grams
Motivation for going to the gym: aesthetics, strength and the endorphins
Favorite fitness influencer/bodybuilder: Asta from Black Clover
Favorite exercise: any variance of push-ups, pull-ups
Ultimate fitness goal: being prepared to fight or protect himself/those around him
Favorite meals: white rice, homemade fried chicken, smoothies
Favorite source of protein: chicken, smoothies
How many times do you go to the gym per week?: 4x
Grace’s fitness community is just one group that often goes unnoticed, which raises the question of: what other niche communities remain hidden? Whether they are visible in Grace’s culture or not, niche communities are what make Grace such a unique place, and for that reason, they all deserve recognition.
Miranda Chao Hwang, the author and photographer, is a staff writer and future senior columnist for The Gazette.