Instagram story viewer> @hersheylifts> Posts

Danielle Hershey

@hersheylifts

2K

followers

3309

following

Faith-rooted. Goth-hearted. ✝️🎃🖤
Powerlifter • Caregiver • Autism
Family, Furbabies
Protect the weak. Always against the grain.
P 23:4 147:3 I 41:10

POSTS STORIES REELS

This is Jividen Barbell. We train to get stronger on and off the platform, push our limits, we train because something inside of us needs structure, a goal, routine, we train so we can flip that switch when needed and come right back down. We train so we can face tomorrow with courage, confidence, and the realization we are capable of handling any situation life throws our way. It’s empowering to lift a weight you didn’t think you could or step out on the platform in front of dozens of people and persevere. Resiliency is learned through repeated acts of adversity and persistence. Refusing to quit. Showing up even when it’s hard. I also want to note @amberleigh_26 second to last with brown hair hit 405 in this video a gym pr. Us, ladies, are 2 weeks out! Ready to step onto the platform? Registration is OPEN for the West Virginia State Powerlifting Championships in February! 🏆 🔗 https://pci.jotform.com/form/262564057265158 SIGN UP TODAY. This meet always fills up fast. Link is attached below. 👇
@ipa.wv.powerlifting by @hersheylifts

It was a great day. Congrats to all the lifters, you all did fantastic and have overcame so many obstacles along the way. I loved being apart of your day. I am happy those that give so often were able to have a day for themselves, happy to have been apart of such an amazing team of spotters and loaders, judges we all stayed calm, were thorough, efficient and respectful and I love that for us. I am happy that I got to witness some first 400+ comp benches, happy I got see people who struggle with grief honor those they’ve lost and find a renewed strength, ATWRs, prs, people stepping back on the platform after just recently having had a baby and absolutely killing it, first timers getting their official powerlifting totals, veterans still pushing weight like it’s nothing, WRs, State Records, a community coming out to support and cheer on those that have committed time and effort to a craft they are passionate about. These people have no quit. They are ALL inspiring, resilient, hardworking, and kind people. Every day I am more and more thankful to be apart of the powerlifting community and apart of Jividen Barbell and Code 3. No better coach, no better group of training partners and friends, no better gym. Again, congratulations to everyone! 🖤 by @hersheylifts

Meet day is upon us! We hope you will come spectate and good luck to all of the lifters today! Wishing a safe and successful meet to all. Big shoutout to the amazing sponsors that helped make this event possible names are listed at the end of this video and some are tagged. @faithinmotion_pt & @sculpted2026 will both have booths on sight!!! So exciting! by @hersheylifts

Some people seek the spotlight. Jonathan Clark would probably be the first to step aside and let someone else have it. But his strength, knowledge, and character have earned him the respect and admiration of the people who know this sport best.

Jon has been involved in powerlifting and strongman for years. Inspired early on by strength legends Brian Siders and Phil Pfister, he went on to compete in organizations including the USPF and NASA and train alongside accomplished lifters at Holley Strength Systems. Those years of study and experience made him a deeply knowledgeable coach and an even better training partner.

What makes Jon special is how freely he gives that knowledge away. He is intelligent, skilled, kind, considerate, and fair minded. He’ll help a lifter work through a problem, serve as an IPA National Judge, or step behind the platform to spot and load. He cares about giving others a safe, fair opportunity to show what they can do. That is why his fellow lifters hold him in such high regard.

On October 10, Jon will return to the platform at the Power Plant Showdown for raw push/pull. He’s hoping to bench over 400 lb, deadlift over 600 lb, and finish with a push/pull total over 1,000 lb. As Jon put it, those would be PRs after everything life and injury have thrown his way. His longer term goal is to return to full power as his hip and back allow, including competing equipped again. He loves both raw and equipped powerlifting and sees value in each.

Beyond the gym, Jon works in cardiac rehabilitation, enjoys comics, collects toys, and plays death, thrash, and black metal guitar. There are so many sides to him, but the one we appreciate most is the person who consistently shows up for others.

Jon may never ask to be recognized. We’re proud to recognize him and honored to have him lifting with us at Code 3 Health & Fitness. 🖤 #PowerPlantShowdown #MeetPrep #IPA #WVPowerlifting by @hersheylifts

Marshall turned 42 yesterday, and he’s getting ready for another first: stepping onto the platform at the Power Plant Showdown on October 10 at Code 3 Health & Fitness! He’ll be competing in full power.

Marshall has been working out for just two years. Before that, he says he’d never lifted a weight in his life. Now he’s heading into his first powerlifting meet with goals of a 200 lb squat, 315 lb bench, and 315 lb deadlift. Long term goals consist of a 400lb bench. The lift he’s most excited for? Bench!

Outside the gym, Marshall is a loving and devoted husband, father, and dog dad who enjoys spending time with his family and his gym family. He’s also a service manager at Dutch Miller CDJR and Ford of Ripley.

Help us wish Marshall a happy belated birthday and cheer him on as he gets ready for his first meet! 💪🎂
#PowerPlantShowdown #MeetPrep #FirstMeet #WVPowerlifting by @hersheylifts

A reminder to invest in yourself and your health. #trainhard #code3hf_jividenbarbell #gym by @hersheylifts

The Power Plant Showdown is bringing this duo to the platform in their home gym! Meet Dakota and Maria—two lifters with individual goals and a shared love for lifting and life together. 💪❤️

Dakota, 33, is a correctional officer and dad who has been powerlifting since 2019. His experience spans raw, classic raw, single-ply, multi-ply, and unlimited competition, with squat and bench holding the top spots as his favorite lifts. At this meet, he has his sights set on an unlimited bench world record in the 275-pound weight class. His long-term goals include a 2,000-pound equipped total and an 1,800-pound raw total!

Outside the gym, Dakota enjoys hunting, fishing, and firearms. But when asked what he’s most excited about for the Showdown, his answer was personal: getting to compete alongside Maria in their home gym.

Maria, 26, is a welder and mom who began powerlifting in 2025. She competes raw, loves deadlifts, and is coming into this meet chasing a new total PR! At her first meet, Hillbilly Havoc 3, she put together a 628.3-pound total with a 253.5-pound squat, 115.7-pound bench, and 259-pound deadlift. She’s looking to build on that foundation, with a long-term goal of a 1,000-pound raw total.

Outside of lifting, Maria enjoys food, makeup, and shopping. Together, these two love watching Stranger Things, sharing good food, working out, and fishing. Training is one part of the life they share, and this October, they get to bring that shared passion to the competition platform.

Join us October 10 at Code 3 Health & Fitness to cheer on Dakota and Maria as they chase new milestones on home turf!
#PowerPlantShowdown #LifterHighlight #MeetPrep by @hersheylifts

For this lifter highlight, we’re introducing not only one of the athletes taking the platform at the Power Plant Showdown, but also the owner of Code 3 Health & Fitness and the man who created the place in which this meet will be held.
For Allen Lude, Code 3 was never supposed to be just another gym. It was created from a lifetime of learning what it means to show up when people need you.
“Being a first responder changes the way you look at life. You learn that the easy moments aren’t necessarily the ones that define you. It’s the moments when things go wrong—the moments when someone is scared, someone is hurting, someone needs help, and there isn’t time to hesitate—that stay with you.
You learn to rely on the people beside you.
You learn that preparation matters.
You learn that when the call comes, you don’t get to decide whether you’re ready. You either are, or you aren’t.” That mindset stayed with Allen long after the calls were over. He began thinking about what happens between those calls, what we do when nobody is asking us to be ready, when there isn’t an emergency, when nobody is watching, and when there is no immediate consequence for taking the easy way out.
That is where discipline is built.
And that is where the idea for Code 3 began.
“I didn’t create Code 3 because I wanted another place where people could lift weights. There are plenty of gyms. I wanted to create a place that represented something—a place where people could come in carrying whatever life had put on their shoulders and have somewhere to put it down for a while.” Rest is posted in comments. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ #PowerPlantShowdown #Gym #IPAPowerlifting #WVPowerlifting by @hersheylifts

Meet Barbara Norrod, one of the incredible lifters taking the platform at the Power Plant Showdown!
Barbara is coached by Cody Rogers of Relevant Strength Training, who trains athletes out of Code Three Health and Fitness and Nautilus in Charleston. This will be Barbara’s very first powerlifting meet, and we are truly honored that she chose the Power Plant Showdown for her platform debut. We expect amazing things from her—but first, we want you to hear her story in her own words:
“I started lifting in 2021 to strengthen my back for surgery. Of course, I had two years off for recovery from the back surgery and ankle surgery. My back was broken by my parents when I was a child. My spine grew twisted until it severed a nerve in 2021, but my surgery was already scheduled at this point, and I needed two surgeons, so they couldn’t move it up.
“I had six operations at once, and it took nine and a half hours. I was cut through my abdomen and my back. I told my surgeon that I wanted to continue to lift after surgery because I enjoyed it, so I asked him to make sure he fixed my spine so I could go back to lifting—even though I couldn’t walk on one of my legs at that point in time.
“I went back to lifting after complications from the surgery, and then last year, I broke my ankle and had to start over with lifting again in August 2025. My first deadlift was in January of this year. Cody told me he could show me how to do it safely. I was always pretty strong, but I’ve definitely gotten a lot stronger since I started training for powerlifting in January 2026.
***I will post the rest of her story below in the comments*** ⬇️⬇️ by @hersheylifts

@jividen_barbell @code_3_fitness_poca #gym #meet #ipapowerlifting #powerlifting by @hersheylifts

Josh Withrow may jokingly refer to himself as dumb or claim he doesn’t know much but anyone who has genuinely spoken with him knows that couldn’t be further from the truth.

At 29 years old, Josh possesses an incredible depth of knowledge across many subjects, but he is especially passionate about lifting: its mechanics, history, recovery modalities, and the culture surrounding it. He is thoughtful, disciplined, direct, and guided by a strong sense of integrity. He is also a loyal friend, an animal lover, a hotdog enthusiast, and a devoted boyfriend to Aimee.

Josh’s competitive résumé already speaks for itself. He has competed across several federations, earned four first-place finishes, and most recently placed second at the 2026 Arnold Pro Invitational. His personal bests include a 711-pound squat, 474-pound bench, 771.6-pound deadlift, and a 1,956.6-pound total.

For the Power Plant Showdown, Josh has one very clear objective: break the 2,000-pound barrier.

Everything about his preparation reflects that goal. His nutrition, conditioning, strength work, technique, and recovery are consistently locked in. He also understands how to autoregulate, knowing when discomfort can be worked through and when calling a session is the smarter decision.

Then, it’s time to lift, and Josh flips a switch.

He brings an intensity and passion that make everyone around him want to get up and start moving weight. He is fully present, celebrates every victory, and immediately begins searching for the next opportunity to improve. He is a beast, slightly crazy, completely controlled, and fiercely competitive.

Josh is the kind of person you want lifting beside you and the kind of lifter you don’t want to miss on the platform. Beyond the numbers, he is an upstanding, kind, loyal, and deeply respected human being.

Come watch Josh Withrow chase a 2,000+ pound total at the Power Plant Showdown. 🔥 #PowerPlantShowdown #MeetPrep #Roadto2k by @hersheylifts

At just 29 years old, DJ Stewart is already preparing to step onto the platform for his 13th powerlifting meet.

DJ works as a Branch Manager at Airgas. Outside of powerlifting, he enjoys gaming, photography and videography, and collecting cards. A fun fact about DJ: if he sits somewhere long enough, you’ll probably catch him practicing his handwriting. ✍️

His current raw personal bests include:

611.8 lb squat
402.3 lb bench
551.2 lb deadlift
1,565.3 lb total

After suffering a serious back injury earlier this year, DJ is especially grateful—and excited—to be healthy enough to compete again.

At the Power Plant Showdown, he’ll be chasing a 1,600+ lb total, a bench over 402 lb,his long-awaited 600 lb deadlift,and a few state records along the way.

With years of experience, tremendous strength, and some seriously big goals, DJ is absolutely a lifter you’ll want to watch when he takes the platform!

Come out and cheer him on as he goes to war with the weights! 💪
#WVPowerlifting #PowerPlantShowDown #LifterHighlight #MeetPrep by @hersheylifts