'This is the way:’ Future nurse finds inspiration in powerlifting

Twenty-year-old Durham Tech nursing student Jack Siegling was focused on completing the College’s Associate Degree in Nursing program and earning his registered nursing credential. He planned to work in the field for a year or so before pursuing a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina. Then Durham Tech Success Coach Kevin Lawrence checked in to see how his first semester was going.

“I was just checking to see how everything was going with him,” Lawrence said. “We chatted a few times, and at some point, it came up that I am a personal trainer. He shared an interest in getting back in the gym, so we got together to work out. He really took to the training.”

What Lawrence and Siegling did not expect was that what started as simple training sessions would lead Siegling to discover another passion: powerlifting.

Like many students, Siegling faced the challenge of balancing coursework, work responsibilities, and preparation for a demanding healthcare career. The training sessions with Lawrence were a healthy outlet to help him build time-management skills, set achievable goals, and stay focused on his academic path.

It was when they added barbells to the workout that Siegling’s potential in powerlifting was revealed.  

“Jack has a very high level of neuromuscular efficiency. That’s the central nervous system’s ability to effectively recruit, synchronize and activate muscle fibers to produce, reduce and stabilize force,” Lawrence said. “He can fire up his muscle fibers in an instant which allows him to move heavy weight very quickly. This is a rare trait. To put it in perspective, it took me a year to go from deadlifting 315 pounds to 405 pounds. Jack went from 335 pounds to 500 pounds in five months. When you look at him you wonder how a guy so thin can lift so much weight. It’s the neuromuscular efficiency he has. He has a gift.”

The two now train at least four days a week for a minimum of an hour per session with Siegling focusing on his deadlift, specifically the sumo deadlift.  

“I am 6 foot 5 with long arms, so I have the leverage to do the deadlift,” Siegling said. “Having someone who believed in me and helped me create a plan made a huge difference. Kevin appreciated my attention to detail and used it to strengthen my form, which in turn keeps me safe in my lifts. ... Kevin reminds me success does not usually come overnight. It comes with consistency.”

Lawrence, an avid “Star Wars” fan, drove home his point of commitment to one’s passion through a T-shirt Siegling was given when he donated to a fundraiser Lawrence put on for a family who lost a son. The T-shirt reads, “This is the way."  

“The line comes from ‘The Mandalorian,’ which is part of the ‘Star Wars’ films,” Lawrence said. “The deeper meaning of the line is that when you commit to something you give your heart and soul to it. That mindset works for powerlifting because you cannot do the sport halfway. If you are going to powerlift, it is all or nothing.”

Siegling puts his heart and soul into many areas of his life. He works as a CNA at Carol Wood retirement community and he keeps his eye on the prize in his studies at Durham Tech.

“I love that Durham Tech has passionate teachers,” Siegling said. “I can appreciate that. I have found that an instructor can make or break a class. My professors at Durham Tech have been lovely. Choosing to start my academic career at Durham Tech has been one of the best decisions of my life. ... The same mindset that helps me in the gym helps me in the classroom.”

Siegling is now focused on an ambitious goal — he is training for a September qualifying event that could earn him a spot at the National Powerlifting Championships to be held in California next summer.  

“Qualifying for nationals would be amazing,” Siegling said. “It is something I have worked toward every day, and it has taught me the importance of commitment. No matter how busy life gets, you must keep showing up.”  

While nursing remains his primary career focus, Siegling hopes to combine his interests in healthcare and athletics. In addition to earning his nursing degree, he plans to become a certified personal trainer.  

“I have learned how important proper training and injury prevention are,” Siegling said. “As a nurse and certified personal trainer, I would be able to help people improve their health from multiple angles.”