FSLM Student Profile
/Meet Kamariee Ellis
By Madeline Smallwood
Strength. Grit. Determination. These are all traits that Liberty-Eylau senior Kamariee Ellis exhibits. Currently ranked first in the region and third in the state, Kamariee embodies the essence of powerlifting—a sport that goes beyond physical strength and requires intense mental endurance as well.
“There’s a lot that goes into [powerlifting],” she said. “[A competition entails three sets of] squat, bench, and deadlift. Whoever does the most weight at the end of the meet is the winner of that weight class,” Kamariee explained.
While Kamariee, who only began her powerlifting career a few years ago as a sophomore, is now passionate about the sport, she was skeptical of joining the team at first.
“I was a track girly,” she recalled. “Coach Brandon Rollins was trying to get me to come over to that side. I didn’t really want to, but then I was like, ‘I’ll give it a shot.’” Her initial concern was one that many girls and women have: “I didn’t want to look buff—that was my whole thing,” she said. “But now I look at [being buff] like a compliment.”
“I like to venture off and do things on my own and push myself.”
As the competition intensifies with regional and state meets approaching, Kamariee’s training schedule is highly demanding. “In the regular season, practice is Monday, Wednesday, Friday. But now that regionals and state are coming up, it’s every weekday at 6:30 in the morning,” she said.
Preparation for meets involves more than a focus on physical readiness. Beyond stretching regularly and keeping a close eye on her weight to ensure she is eligible to compete in her weight class, Kamariee also makes efforts to prepare mentally and emotionally. “I read my Bible, boost my confidence, and stuff like that,” she said.
Although Kamariee has a rigorous training schedule, she is still able to pursue other interests, including serving as one of the varsity cheer captains at Liberty-Eylau High School. She also manages her own hair braiding-business called Braids by Kamariee, following in the footsteps of her mother.
“Whenever I was little, my mom would let me help her with her clients,” she explained. “In middle school, I was seeing girls with braids, and I was like, ‘I can do that.’ I started practicing on my family members first and then eventually built up my own clientele. I started to charge, and it skyrocketed from there.”
Entrepreneurship is not how most teenagers make money—but Kamariee is not like most teenagers.
“I like to venture off and do things on my own and push myself,” she said. “I wanted to be able to do what my mom does. Now I’ve had my business consistently for two years.”
Kamariee’s strength is evident in both her powerlifting feats and the maintenance of her business. No matter the results of upcoming competitions, her unwavering determination and varied talents are an inspiration to her community.