I have known and been friends with Shelley Prather Yates almost my whole life. She and I have been friends since I was 11 years old and we went to Junior High and High School together as well. I must say Shelly is one of the best women I have ever known in my life. She has been a teacher for 17 years, has a masters degree, has been married to my boy J - Love (Jason Derrick Yates) for like a 100 years, has two wonderful children (Cross and Carson), is loved by all her students, is a inspiration to many, she helps out many in our community, leads by example, strong willed, smart, sassy, loving, caring and one of the strongest women I know (not just physically strong but mentally).
I love her very much and I am very honored to call her my very good friend or as I always tell her: the sister I never had. She is my fiancés best friend and my daughter Katelyn Smith loves and adores her. As you can see I think very highly of this woman. And rightfully so. She is what many should aspire to be. A pillar in our community and a service woman to so many kids for many many years.
Shelly has been training with us for almost 2 years. When she first came to me to help her loose weight and to start working with her I honestly never thought she would make it a week. Then a week turned into a month, a month turned into months, a year into years and here we are. 2 years later she has amassed quite a resume of achievements. She has done 7 powerlifting meets and finished first in every one of them. She has been ranked in the top 5, 10, 15, 20 in every lift and total for two years in a row on powerlifting watch and finished 2015 ranked in the top 10 in two different weight class in the entire nation! Her squat is number 1 in the nation for female SHW Master division and 20th in the bench, 20th in the deadlift and 5th in total and for the 198 women's Masters Division she finished 4th in squat, 14th in the bench, 8th in the deadlift and 4th in total in the entire nation! She also won a gold metal at The GPC World Championships in Las Vegas last year. She also owns over 50 SPF State, National and World records!
After this meet Shelly now owns the best squat and total in SPF history for the 198 women's masters division....
With all these accolades and wins and titles nothing compares to her as a very determined and focused woman. She has proved time and time again as a full time teacher, a mother of two sons and a wife that you can live a healthy lifestyle, have time to train and even compete. If you have an excuse because you don't have time to train then you should learn from this woman how you actually do.
Shelly you had to overcome alot to get to this meet and compete. For you that don't know Shelly lost her dad just a few days before this meet to cancer. Her dads funeral was three days before this meet. Shelly was very close to her dad and loved him emencly. It was the hardest week of her life but yet she still mustered up the will and fortitude to take that 7 hour drive, cut 21 pounds of body weight to make her weight class and endure a 12 hour day of competing to overcome all the odds and have her best meet of her career thus far. Your dad is very proud of you I am sure of this and he is defiantly smiling from ear to ear!
Amazing....Inspiring....
Shelly I love you and your family and we are so very very proud of you. You truly are an inspiration to us all and one of the best people I have ever known in my life. Congratulations my sister....
In Shelly's own words from FB:
"After losing my dad last week, I have been on a roller coaster ride of emotions from heartbroken to pissed off at the world. I wanted to compete this weekend in honor of my dad. I am not and was not looking for pity, but it was not easy to keep myself together and focused. I am not a quitter and it was important to me to show my two sons and my students how to handle yourself when you are faced with adversity--you do not quit! I wanted to be a positive role model for them and show them how to be a fighter. I went 1 for 3 on squats--was disappointed in myself--I sucked it up, dug deep and went 3 for 3 on bench and deadlift. I was able to PR on both and finished with my biggest total of 880 and a first place medal.
None of this would have been possible without the support from my husband, Jason Derrick Yates, he is my rock and my number one fan. I love you! Thank you to my coach, Joey Smith, for pushing me, believing in me, and being my brother. I appreciate all of my Nebobarbell family for your support and encouragement. Thank you to my sponsor Complete Nutrition-Asheville for providing me with the best supplements on the market and Stephanie Lynn Stephens for your guidance with my healthy weight cut. It takes a village!
Ready to start preparing for my next meet, train harder, and take care of some bigger numbers!"
