Strength in Community: Inside USF Powerlifting’s Rise on Campus
As part of our ongoing Footnotes from Campus initiative, a student giveback project celebrating collegiate strength communities, we sent care packages to powerlifting clubs across the country. Inside: our 1HUND lifting shoes, a disposable film camera, and one challenge: capture whatever felt real.
When the package landed in the hands of the University of South Florida Powerlifting Club, it met a team already steeped in tradition. Founded in 2015, USF Powerlifting has become a cornerstone of Florida’s strength scene — two-time Florida State Champions, home to one of the few collegiate gyms equipped with competition-standard platforms and racks, and the sixth-ranked women’s team in the nation.
Humble Beginnings
Founded in 2015, the University of South Florida Powerlifting Club has steadily built its name in the collegiate strength scene. What started as a few students training for strength in the campus gym quickly turned into a community, one that now counts over fifty active members, two Florida State Championships, and a sixth-place finish for their women’s team nationwide. They’re also one of the few universities in the country with full competition-grade equipment right inside their campus recreation center, a rare privilege that makes every training session feel like meet day.
First Impressions: The Perfect Blend
When the team laced up in 1HUND shoes for the first time, the reaction was instant:
“It was the perfect blend — supportive, but not heavy. You could move naturally without losing that stable base.”
That sentiment mirrors their approach to training, finding balance between structure and freedom, between team and individuality.
Community is at the heart of USF Powerlifting.
Whether they’re chasing PRs or running their own on-campus meets, everyone shows up.
“We all come together for meet days — setting up, running the platform, spotting, tearing down. Running a large-scale event is only possible when everyone buys in.”
An Impromptu Dunking Shoot
During their recent 1HUND photo day, the vibe was relaxed and full of laughs — including an impromptu dunking shoot that turned into one of the day’s funniest moments.
Looking ahead, the club’s mission is clear:
“We want to become one of the most competitive powerlifting programs in the nation and offer the best collegiate powerlifting experience out there.”
These Are Their Footnotes
Their message to new students is simple yet powerful:
“College is one of the few times you’ll ever compete for a team in powerlifting. Don’t miss that chance. Meet great people. Grow stronger — together.”
📲 Follow the journey: @1hund.co
📷 Stay close to the Aztec crew: @powerliftingclubatusf
📝 Watch for more stories from Footnotes from Campus — the campaign continues.
