Why We Coach: Lessons from USPA Ultra Nationals 2026
- Jesus Acuna
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Nationals is an interesting experience.
From the outside, people see the platform, the medals, the records, and the totals. They see the successful lifts and the podium pictures.
What they don't see are the early mornings, the missed social events, the meals prepared ahead of time, the injuries worked around, the self-doubt, the setbacks, and the months of consistent work that happen long before an athlete ever steps onto a platform.
That's why I love coaching.
The joy isn't found in the trophies. It's found in watching people discover what they're capable of.
It's seeing someone walk into a gym unsure of themselves and eventually step onto a national stage with confidence. It's watching athletes learn patience when progress is slow, resilience when things don't go according to plan, and discipline when nobody is watching.
Strength training has always been about more than strength. The barbell is simply the tool.
The real goal is to develop people.
This year's USPA Tested Nationals was another reminder of why we do what we do at RF.
The Results at USPA Nationals
Our team traveled to Nationals with four athletes representing Resilient Fitness. Every athlete left with at least one personal record, and every athlete demonstrated the values that matter most: commitment, resilience, and the willingness to keep showing up.
Annette Acuña
48kg Weight Class
275kg Total
2nd Place Tested Submaster Division
Arizona State Record Squat: 209 lbs
Arizona State Record Deadlift: 275 lbs
Annette's Nationals experience came with an important lesson. Our goal was an elite total, and we came up just 5kg short.
A few years ago, that result might have felt like failure.
Today, we see it differently.
Competition exposes weaknesses, and that's a gift. We learned valuable lessons about meet-day preparation, fueling, and nutrition leading into competition. Those lessons will make us better coaches and better athletes moving forward.
The plan is simple: learn, adjust, and come back stronger for the Arizona State
Championships.
That's what resilience looks like.
On a personal level, coaching Annette has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
She is my wife, my best friend, and someone I have had the privilege of watching fully embrace her competitive spirit over the last two and a half years. I've seen her dive headfirst into powerlifting, challenge herself in ways she never imagined, and continually raise the bar for what she believes is possible.
As a coach, there is a tremendous amount of trust involved in the athlete-coach relationship. The fact that Annette trusts me to guide her through this journey means more than I can put into words. We've learned together, celebrated victories together, and worked through setbacks together.
What makes me most proud, however, has nothing to do with records or medals.
It's the example she sets for our kids.
They see their mom train hard. They see her prioritize her health. They see her commit to goals, overcome challenges, and step onto a competition platform as if it's a normal part of life.
And in our family, it is.
They're growing up with a front-row seat to what discipline, resilience, and self-care look like in action. They're learning that strength isn't something reserved for elite athletes—it's something everyday people can build through consistent effort.
No medal can measure that impact.
I'm incredibly proud of what Annette has accomplished so far, and I'm even more excited to see what she continues to achieve in the years ahead.
Marcy Gonzales
60kg Weight Class
290kg Total
2nd Place Tested Submaster Division
This was Marcy's first Nationals appearance.
What makes that accomplishment even more impressive is where she started.
In August of 2024, Marcy suffered an ankle dislocation that could have easily derailed her training and confidence.
Instead, she committed to the process.
Month after month she rebuilt strength, trusted the plan, and earned her opportunity to compete on one of the biggest stages in tested powerlifting.
Nationals wasn't just a competition for Marcy.
It was proof of how far she had come.
Emma LaPointe
80kg Weight Class
332.5kg Total
2nd Place Tested Junior (20-23) Deadlift Only
3rd Place Tested Junior (20-23)
3rd Place Tested Open 82.5kg Division
Bench Press PR: 143 lbs
Arizona State Deadlift Record: 324.5 lbs
Emma continues to prove what is possible when young athletes commit themselves to long-term development.
She stepped onto the national stage and delivered one of the best performances of her career.
Setting a bench press personal record while simultaneously establishing an Arizona State Deadlift Record is an accomplishment most lifters spend years chasing.
The exciting part?
She's just getting started. She heads out to Washington DC this summer for a journalism internship, but will be back soon!
Marc Robinson
100kg Weight Class
600kg Total
6th Place Tested Junior (20-23)
Marc had an outstanding meet.
He finished Nationals with a 506 lb squat and a 539 lb deadlift, both personal records.
The total tells one story.
The bigger story is the growth behind it.
Over the course of this training cycle, Marc developed the patience, confidence, and consistency required to compete at a national level. He trusted the process, stayed committed, and was rewarded with a performance that reflects years of hard work.
The Real Victory
The numbers are fun.
The medals are exciting.
The records are meaningful.
But those aren't what I'll remember most.
I'll remember watching teammates support one another through every lift.
I'll remember parents watching their children compete on a national stage.
I'll remember children watching their mothers step onto the platform and demonstrate what courage, discipline, and hard work look like in real life.
I'll remember Annette's parents cheering from the crowd.
I'll remember Stacie watching Emma compete.
I'll remember the conversations, the laughs, the shared meals, and the memories created outside the competition venue.
Some of our favorite moments weren't on the platform at all.
They happened while exploring Universal Studios, walking through Disneyland, and spending time together as families.
Because at the end of the day, that's what this is really about.
Strength creates opportunities.
Opportunities create experiences.
Experiences create memories.
And memories are what last.
What This Means for You
Most people reading this blog have no desire to compete at Nationals.
That's okay.
You don't have to be a powerlifter to benefit from strength training.
The same habits that helped our athletes prepare for Nationals are the same habits that help busy parents lose weight, help adults move without pain, help professionals manage stress, and help people stay active as they age.
The process is the same.
Show up.
Be consistent.
Do the work.
Learn from setbacks.
Keep moving forward.
Strength changes more than your body.
It changes your confidence, your mindset, and your belief in what's possible.
And that's why we coach.
Interested in Powerlifting?
Resilient Fitness is expanding our powerlifting coaching services, and a specialized powerlifting training group is coming soon.
Whether you're a beginner looking to learn the lifts, an experienced lifter chasing a personal record, or someone interested in competing for the first time, we'd love to help.
Your journey starts with a conversation.
And you may be capable of far more than you realize.
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