WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — The weight room is where Winter Springs sophomore Amy Barrelle found her purpose.

“I just feel confident," Barrelle says. "It’s just easier when you’re doing something that’s good for your body, good for your mental health, and just good for yourself.”

Not only is it good for her, but she’s pretty good at it.

“Just the things she’s doing this year usually you see from a junior or senior, and she’s only a sophomore,” says John Mosure, Winter Springs head weightlifting coach.

“My total is 290 (pounds), which means I bench 135, and I can clean-and-jerk 155,” says Barrelle, who lifts in the 110-pound weight class.

“The only time I really realize that I weigh 110 pounds is when I am telling someone how much I did," Barrelle says. "Then I really think about it, and I’m like, 'That’s a lot of weight that I had to put above my head'.”

It’s a lot of weight, but she’s not satisfied.

“It’s like yeah I did that, but I’m kind of just looking for what’s the next number I can get," Barrelle says. "It’s all my own decisions so if I put in the effort, then my numbers will go up, but if I don’t put in effort, my numbers will stay the same or get worse so it’s all up to me on how hard I try.”

That effort is paying off.

“She won every dual meet that she competed in this year and then we recently went to the invitational and she was able to win that tournament, and she recently helped our team win the conference championship by winning her 110-weight class,” Mosure says.

As Barrelle continues to reach new heights, she encourages others around her to find their passion, too.

“You should do it and give it a try," Barrelle says. "I think it will change your life.”