“I think anybody who’s come and seen what we do, especially our refs but the athletes as well, can really see how much of a difference this has made in the lives of these young athletes.”
By Roger “Rock” Lockridge
Nico and Bonny Espinola Have Combined Their Passions for Teaching and Powerlifting
They are helping grow the sport and change lives in Oregon.
The importance of teachers in schools is understood. The next generation needs them to be prepared to enter the world when they grow up. It should also be acknowledged that someone doesn’t have to be in a classroom to serve as a teacher. Coaches, mentors, and leaders all have a role in shaping the lives of kids through teaching.
Then there are those who are so committed that they make it a priority in and out of the classroom. Their commitment and passion burns so brightly that it serves as guiding lights for children long after they reach adulthood. Nico and Bonny Espinola are clearly in this category, and they have become advocates for powerlifting in their home state of Oregon as a result.
Nico teaches at Brixner Junior High, and Bonnie is a teacher at Henley High School. Prior to that, they had been working as student teachers in another area. Nico had already had experience training when he entered the sport, and Bonny started training along with him. Both found the training and sport served them well. Eventually, they felt their students could benefit from being active and a part of a community.
Nico said, “My dad gave me the idea that we should start a lifting club. And initially, it was just to be after school; kids could get together and lift some weights and get stronger and just kind of get exposed to it.”
Once Nico and Bonny took their current positions, they opted to start another club in the Klamath Falls area, this time with more of a focus on powerlifting specifically. What started out as a club evolved into hosting their own meets.
“We run three unsanctioned meets a year then last year we started running the PLU Crater Lake Clash as kind of the final meet of the school year for the kids who are really into it.”
Nico had already served as a referee for another organization, but he said that being a part of PLU was a natural next step for him and Bonny, both of whom have been a force in helping PLU and the sport grow.
“I think the decision was pretty easy for us. And then Bonnie got her certification and we’ve just been helping out throughout the Pacific Northwest ever since.”
Bonny added, “The integrity within the group in PLU is so much stronger in the Pacific Northwest. Meet directors put a lot of effort into putting on high-quality local meets. They’re spending a lot of money and they’re putting so much of their time and soul into it and it is really reflected in the lifter experience.”
While their own events were primarily created for their students, Bonny reported that it grew into something bigger.
“But then we get a really cool group of adults that compete as well. Like, we have some of the local adults that have chosen to compete and adults that have traveled in as well.”
According to Bonny, there are some bigger and stronger adults that have started competing with the kids, and seeing the bigger lifts have not only been entertaining for the students but inspiring as well.
“And the feedback from the adults is that it’s a really cool environment. It’s really fun to get to see the kids, and the kids are watching the adults. And we usually have some pretty big guys that are lifting some pretty heavy weight, which is very cool for the kids.”
The growth of the sport and its potential are evidenced by Nico and Bonny having to buy more weights to accommodate the increase in people wanting to be a part of their movement. They think they are going to need bigger space in the future to help serve more students, but if you’re going to have problems, those are the kind they want to have.
“It’s starting to get more popular at our high schools here. We have three. And we’re seeing more kids get interested at the high school that Bonnie teaches at. The kids that go through my junior high school are going on to high school and sticking with it, which is great. And I think it’s only a matter of time before we see more adults become interested in the sport in our area as well.”
Some of their students got to go to the 2026 PLU Nationals, and Bonny recalled that some of the kids are already asking about the 2027 Nationals, which will be in Indianapolis, IN next year. It’s grass roots efforts like that that will allow the sport to prosper in the years ahead. Nico and Bonny hope that others in and out of their area will see the momentum and decide to be a part of it in the future. At the end of the day, it would give them a chance to do what teachers do best, serve young people.
“I think anybody who’s come and seen what we do, especially our refs but the athletes as well, can really see how much of a difference this has made in the lives of these young athletes.”
Crater Lake Clash 3 is set for June 19, 2027 at Brixner Jr High in Klamath Falls, OR . To learn more, follow @nespinola24, @bonny.witha.y, and @brixnerpowerlifting on Instagram.
