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Savannah Morning News January 18, 2011
Former competitive weightlifter Kerri Goodrich can attest to the positive influence exercise can have on a young person.
Goodrich uses competitive weightlifting at Performance Initiatives to teach discipline and the value of education to children as young as 6 to those who are college age.
Goodrich says the individual attention and team support makes a huge difference in children with behavior problems, learning disabilities and autism. Children love weightlifting, and Goodrich makes them work for it. When they complete a math problem in chalk on the platform where they stand to lift, they are rewarded with another lift. When Goodrich holds up a flash card and the child gets the correct answer, the child is rewarded with another lift. Zaire Anderson is one success story. Zaire spent a lot of time in the principal's office because of fighting, incomplete work and not paying attention. His mother introduced him to Performance Initiatives and he now spends eight to 12 hours a week there. He must complete his homework before he is allowed to participate in the circuit training, conditioning games and weightlifting. Zaire placed in the School Age Nationals in California and the Junior Olympics in Virginia. He won a gold medal in the Joe Dube competition in Jacksonville and 2011 Junior National Qualifier. He wants to get stronger so he will be successful in the NFL when he grows up. Another success story is Nikki Hanebrink. Nikki is Goodrich's niece, who came to live with Goodrich in July 2009. At 12 years old, Nikki weighed 187 pounds. "I was depressed and angry and I hated weightlifting," Nikki said. Goodrich was steadfast in making Nikki learn discipline, respect and a healthy lifestyle through weightlifting. Within the first year, Nikki qualified for the School Age Nationals and Junior Olympics. She won a silver and two bronze medals in California and a silver medal in Virginia. Nikki, now 14, helps out around the gym and is a positive role model for the other kids. Her weight is now 138, and she has qualified for the Junior Nationals, which will take place in February in Houston. Nikki plans to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design when she graduates from high school, but her career goals are yet to be determined. Performance Initiatives Inc. Address: 2021 Tennessee Ave., Savannah Phone:912-507-7106 Website:www.performanceinitiatives.org
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