Athlete of the Week — Javon King

West Ashley senior Javon King always strives for success. Over the course of the last four years he’s had success on the football field, wrestling mat, track, and in the weight room. This year King won first place in the South Carolina State Strength Meet for the 150-pound-weight division and broke the state record. King squatted 460 pounds and benched 285 pounds, for a total of 745 pounds — almost five times his body weight.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to do what I’m doing and to represent my school. I felt that I was doing it for my school and my team,” says King. Not only did King break the record and win the State Championship, he was also able to defeat his nemesis who took first place last year. “Javon, under the coaching of William Weinberg, beat the defending state champion in his weight class,” says WAHS head football coach Robert Marion. What a feeling it must be to earn such a feat. “The best part [was] seeing my mom cry when she found out I won state,” says King.
Even though King excels in weightlifting, football is his favorite sport. Playing football was actually what got him started in weightlifting. According to King, he was always getting into trouble when he was younger, so his mom signed him up for football hoping it would teach him some discipline. Today, King is an extremely hardworking, passionate, and charismatic young man whose motto is “give 100 percent in everything you do.”
Weightlifting is a major aspect in King’s success on the football field. “Weight training helps you get stronger and gain weight, increases football productivity, and helps prevent injury,” says King.
Five days a week King spends an hour and a half of his school day weight training. “What you do behind the scenes is what helps you,” says King. When he gets home, he does extra sets of sit-ups and push-ups to stay ahead.
Bringing home a State Championship ring is definitely proof that King’s extra work paid off, but he claims that he did not do it alone. “[The coaches] keep a good eye on the kids on the field and at school, and that really helped me,” says King. “I want to thank the whole school for supporting me and being behind me. I really feel like West Ashley is on the rise.” King believes more and more West Ashley students are demonstrating their talents and skills, and he’s proud to be one of them.
When King graduates in just a few short months, he plans to join the Marines. He says he doesn’t want to be in debt when he graduates and serving in the armed forces can help with that. King says he plans to get his Associate’s degree in mechanical engineering or law enforcement. King says he could see himself being a police officer after he gets out of the Marines.