Meet a Roadrunner: UTSA powerlifting champion Molly Zunker
(Oct. 29, 2014) -- Meet Molly Zunker. This senior anthropology major is also a world champion powerlifter out to prove that women can lift just as well, if not better, than the boys.
A native of Thrall, Texas, Zunker is the president and a coach of the UTSA Powerlifting Team, which recently won the National Championship Title at the 2014 USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals.
Since joining the club in 2010, Zunker has been an instrumental part of the getting the Powerlifting Club to where it is today, 44 members strong and nationally recognized. As president and coach, she has helped lead the club to individual national championships for five years running.
Zunker herself has won nine national titles and one world championship title for her impressive powerlifting acumen.
She began her career in powerlifting during her sophomore year of high school. Already a star long-distance runner on her school's track team, she was convinced to join the school's burgeoning powerlifting team by her close friend at the time.
"I can still remember the first time I was asked to do a proper squat, I was awful!" Zunker said. "But I also immediately fell in love with the feeling that you get once past your current weight threshold. It is such a rush to know your hard work is paying off. It's what I hope to instill in the rest of the UTSA powerlifting team."
After years of training, Zunker can squat 336 pounds, roughly three times her own body weight, bench press 165 pounds and deadlift an impressive 352 pounds of weight, but those numbers aren't enough for this ambitious powerlifter. She trains between 12 and 15 hours a week to keep her body in peak physical condition, adding weight to her training regime in increments.
"Weightlifting can be tough, no doubt about it," said Zunker. "It's also a great way to transform your body, if you know what you're doing. Even on my worst training session, I always feel good, alert and strong."
After she graduates at Spring 2015 Commencement, Zunker, also a licensed massage therapist, hopes to open her own massage parlor. She said she feels that her experience with powerlifting has made her more in tune with how the body's muscles work and how best to relieve tension.
Zunker doesn't think she'll ever quit powerlifting, pushing her body to the limits of her strength and then pushing past that. Her ultimate goal is to one day compete in powerlifting for the U.S. Team at the World Games, an international multi-sport event that happens every four years.
"I'm here to show the world that women powerlifters aren't to be taken lightly," said Zunker. "We are strong. We can lift just as well as men. I hope one day that I can inspire even more women to try their hand at the sport. It's well worth it."
-------------------------------
Do you know someone at UTSA who is achieving great things? Email us at social@utsa.edu so we may consider your submission for an upcoming installment of Meet a Roadrunner.
Read the stories of other UTSA students, faculty, staff and alumni on the Meet a Roadrunner website.
Connect online with UTSA on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Events
Learn to use the simple but powerful features of EndNote®, a citation management tool. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn to setup an EndNote library, save references and PDFs, and automatically create and edit a bibliography.
Virtual EventLearn to use Zotero®, a citation manager that can help you store and organize citations you find during your research. Zotero can generate bibliographies in various styles, insert in-text citations and allow you to share sources with collaborators.
Virtual EventOur GSAW Research Symposium begins with lunch and a Poster Presentation Competition. Faculty, staff, and graduate students are welcome to attend and review the exceptional research from UTSA's best and brightest.
Student Union Ballrooms 1 & 2, Main CampusHear from UTSA doctoral candidate in environmental science, Andre Felton, as he discusses best practices to discuss scholarly research in non-academic settings. Our 2023 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) winners will also share their winning presentations.
Student Union Ballrooms 1 & 2, Main CampusJoin this fun event if you want resume and interview resources, a job or internship, a snow cone from Kona Ice and to socialize.
Sombrilla PlazaIn partnership with San Antonio Metro Health, join us for a special lecture series during Public Health week! An esteemed panel will discuss the job market’s impact on public health departments in Texas municipalities.
Retama Auditorium (SU 2.02.02,) Main CampusThe Task Force for the Shaping the Future of Artificial Intelligence, Cyber, Computing, and Data Science at UTSA initiative will hold a virtual Campus Forum to discuss their findings in Phase I (data gathering). UTSA faculty, staff and students will have an opportunity to ask questions and share ideas before the Task Force moves into Phase II.
Virtual Event