Kujo=Stephen

Kujo or Kuj is my son’s nickname. He was awarded this nickname from his Pop Warner football coach several years ago. The name is a derivation from the Stephen King book of the same name but with a different spelling. It was  his tenacious play and never say die attitude that earned him the nickname. Stephen has an ability to visualize a goal and focus his efforts toward accomplishing that goal.

Kujo gets up early every day and he’s at the gym by 6:30 every morning. He works out with his teammates and coaches and again after school. Academically he maintains a solid “A” average. This Spring he’s running track which he knows will have the added impact of improving his speed for the upcoming football season.

This power-lifting championship is the third in which he has participated and like everything Kujo does he continually improves.

Kujo’s first event was the squat during which he topped out at 450 lbs. He unsuccessfully attempted 490 lbs.

Kujo lifting in his second event, the bench press during which he topped out at 285 lbs. He attempted 300 lbs. but just couldn’t complete the lift.

Kujo’s last event was the dead lift. He topped out at 450 lbs. He attempted 490 lbs. but again could not complete the lift.

For all of his efforts Kujo took second place in the 220 lb. weight class and the North Tonawanda High School took second place overall in the team competition. Like any good competitor he wasn’t happy with second place especially after he missed first place by only 5-lbs. Like a good competitor he will analyze his fitness and his progress and speak with his coaches to see what he can do to improve for next year. He knows that his hard work will take him places in this world and hep him to achieve the goals he sets for himself. He’s a kid who’s not afraid of hard work and understands how his hard work will pay off.

Keep up the hard work Kuj. We love you and know you can achieve the greatnes for which you strive.