High school lacrosse standout not worried about failure in face of lofty 2017 resolutions

Beverly’s reasonable goals for this year may seem a bit daunting to some.

The high school sophomore qualified for and plans to to compete in the Youth Nationals weightlifting competition in June this year — her first time competing in a national event that hosts about 600 to 700 of the country’s best lifters under 17 years old, according to Caleb Williams, a trainer at CrossFit Gwinnett who coaches Beverly in weightlifting.

“She’s been working out for a while and we’ve been trying to get her into nationals,” Williams said. “She’s finally ready to take the leap.”

Beverly has big plans for nationals.

“I want to (set a personal record) at it,” she said. “I want to get at least a 60 kilogram snatch and then a 70 kilogram clean jerk.”

Beverly weighs less than 150 pounds. She would need to lift 132 pounds from the floor straight overhead in one movement to complete her snatch goal. She’ll have to lift another 159 pounds from the floor onto her shoulders and then overhead in two movements to get the clean jerk she wants.

It’s a lofty goal. During practice Tuesday, Beverly snatched 48 kilograms and clean jerked about 65 kilograms. But she isn’t worried. She said she understands persistence and a positive mindset have allowed her to keep focused on her weightlifting and lacrosse goals so far.

“I just keep training every day,” Beverly said. “The more you train, the more you can do. You’d be surprised.”

It’s this mindset that’s allowed Beverly to reasonably set such impressive goals for herself in 2017. When she started lifting two years ago, she said she couldn’t have imagined she’d be aiming for 60 and 70 kilogram weights.

“I lifted maybe the bar and a five (kilo weight),” she said, giggling a bit.

Her light start didn’t deter Beverly, who reached a personal best snatch of 55 kilograms just this past year.

Beverly began lifting to further her high school lacrosse career. It seemed to pay off when she helped lead the United States U17 lacrosse team in a win against Canada at the Brogden Cup International Tournament, a best-of-three games series at the University of Tampa, two weeks ago.

But there have been setbacks in lacrosse, too. The Mill Creek girls lacrosse team fell just short of the state championship last year.

“We got so close,” Beverly said. “We were in the final four.”

The speed bump didn’t distract Beverly. It only pushed her to work harder. She said winning state became one of this year’s New Year’s resolutions.

“I just don’t let it bother me,” she said. “I just look forward to the next thing and keep training for that.”

This year, the high school sophomore is training toward a major life decision — and her ultimate New Year’s resolution.

I’m really hoping to be committed by the end of this year,” Beverly said.

She wants to commit to play lacrosse at Jacksonville University, a private liberal arts college in Florida. Beverly smiles determinedly when she talks about JU. It’s clearly her top goal in 2017.

But she said she knows she could handle rejection, too. She’d just have a pre-made resolution for 2018.

“If I failed this year, I’d make it my goal next year,” she said. “I just wouldn’t let it get in my head.”