“I’m really happy! I am so proud of myself that my body could push like that,” said Evanston fifth grader Ana Camila Little of her recent experience competing at the United States of America Powerlifting (USAPL) Youth Nationals in Greenville, South Caroline on July 12.  Little, known to family and friends as Cami, brought home first place in her age and weight category and set two Wyoming state records as well.

USAPL competitions feature three attempts at three different lifts - back squat, bench press and deadlift. Little, who weighs in at 105 pounds, accomplished her state records with a 132-pound squat effort and a push/pull (bench press and deadlift) combined total of 236 pounds.

Little’s weight total for the day was 368 pounds, combining her highest-achieved squat, bench and deadlift efforts; 132 pounds, 66 pounds and 170 pounds, respectively.  Her squat and deadlift showings are personal bests.

“I was on board instantly, I thought it’d be a great experience for her on a national platform,” Little’s mom and number one fan Teresa Escalante said of her willingness to take her daughter across the country to compete.  “This [meet] was more focused on youth.  And I love powerlifting for kids, it teaches so many good qualities - resilience, grit, you can’t give up because it’s really just you against yourself.”

Ten-year-old Little began her powerlifting journey with the inception of local 307 Strength Youth Barbell Club.  Coach Maggie Jones initially believed the venture would be a great fit for Little’s twin brother Sam, but after his interest waned, it was Little who remained steadfast.  “I thought we were going to do it together,” she said of her brother, “but I tried it, I loved it and I stayed with it.”

“There’s room for everyone in it. Maggie always says ‘strong has different forms,’ and she’s [Little] the epitome of that. No one would look at her and think she could lift heavy,” Escalante said.  “Her [Jones’s] love of powerlifting is transferred to her students.”

Little adds, “one thing she [Jones] teaches us is we can’t say ‘I can’t.’  She says if we say ‘I can,’ we usually do.  Just think of your mindset, think positively.  And we always cheer for each other.  It’s really fun!”

While Little had set her sights on state records for both squat and bench press, she came up just shy on the latter.  “I’m okay.  I didn’t get the record, so I’m a little bummed, but that didn’t stop me from getting the rest of my lifts. I still feel really good, I didn’t think I would come home a national champion.”

Little has already voiced interest in next year’s USAPL Youth Nationals in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and plans to keep working out with the barbell club but will be taking a break from competitions for the time being.  Having competed in five official USAPL-sanctioned meets in just two years, she’s eager to branch out to try new things.

“My favorite thing about lifting is seeing what my body can do, pushing the weight. My least favorite is going consistently. It will be nice to take a break to try other things for a bit,” Little explained, mentioning a desire to try flag football this fall, or possibly even basketball and/or volleyball.