MAURICEVILLE — You can tell that the kids are having fun, and you can certainly see big smiles spread across Mike Denmon’s face while watching it all take place.

Denmon, who has a private gym in Mauriceville, has watched 22 of his pupils win State Powerlifting Championships.

Just recently he observed the Cross Trainers, a team that he helped train vigorously, win 11 gold medals and a silver at the 2012 APF Nationals in Baton Rouge, La.

Denmon certainly has a nice setup at his home. The weightroom there certainly rivals several high school weight rooms. However, it’s the obstacle course on his nice property that stands out even more.

The athletes must venture through about seven different apparatus to complete it. There is weightlifting involved along with endurance, heart and stamina.

Most of the kids competing at meets that Denmon trains are between 11 and 20 years old. He more than welcomes folks of all ages to come out and work on their shapes and stamina.

“I just love working with all the kids, watching them grow up and watching them succeed in life,” said Denmon. “It’s kinda like a ministry for me. If I can keep a kid on the straight and narrow, it’s truly a blessing. I hate to see any kid fall through the cracks.”

Denmon, a 1983 graduate of Bridge City High School, could have easily been one of those young guys that could’ve found himself in trouble “back in the day.”

“I was one of those guys that was obnoxious and kinda going in the wrong direction,” said Denmon. “Then I was introduced to the sport of powerlifting by Jim Aarons (former coach and principal at BCHS). Coach Aarons was like a father figure to me, him and Coach (Dwight) Thacker. They were so inspirational for me. Not only did the sport make me stronger physically, it helped me out so much mentally and it helped me become a better man. If I can help a kid in that kind of way now, that’s awesome.”

Little Cypress-Mauriceville sophomores-to-be Blythe Ferguson and Kallye Harris certainly like what Denmon brings to the table.

“He’s such a great mentor and he helps us so much, as far as getting stronger goes,” said Ferguson. “He can make those workouts real intense for us and he loves pushing us to our limits. Some of the workouts are more about being mentally ready for them as much as it is about all the lifting. When you’re done, you’re tired but you really feel better about yourself. He brings out the best in all of us.”

“Coach Mike, he’s such a great guy,” said Harris. “I started coming here when I was in seventh grade, mainly to just watch my sister workout. Then I gradually got into it, and I just love it. Coach Mike has created a great atmosphere here. We all just love him. He’s always boosting our spirits up and he roots us on at our meets.”

For Ferguson and Harris, it’s not just all about powerlifting that motivates them.

“These workouts help us in so many different ways,” said Harris. “It helps me get higher off the ground in volleyball and it helps Blythe so much in her training for softball, especially with her power as far as hitting goes.”

Denmon is always thrilled in watching the kids exceed.

“The sport has really had a surge in recent years,” said Denmon. “At first, it was definitely about the boys, especially when you go back to the 1980s and 1990s. For the girls, it has really blossomed in the last six or seven years. What’s funny, is that I can go to meets now and watch girls that could have beat me rather handily when I was competing at their age.”

The Cross Trainers certainly were busy bringing the hardware home from the  2012 APF Nationals held in Baton Rouge a couple weeks ago, racking up gold after gold.

Nederland’s Makayla Harper captured the 114-pound division, totaling 632.5 pounds. Nederland’s Alijandra Avila won the 123-pound class with 863.5 pounds.

LC-M’s Harris won the 132-pound division with 722.7 pounds. Buna’s Crystal Ballin nabbed the 148-pound class with 775.5 pounds.

LC-M’s Maygan Crosslin nabbed the 165-pound division, totaling 940.5 pounds. Ferguson won the 198-pound class with 935 pounds and Abi Gail Davis, also from LC-M, was second in the 198-pound class with 786.5 pounds.

On the boys side of the ledger, Garrett Kelso captured the 123-pound class with 753.5 pounds. LC-M’s Troy Angelo was first in the 181-pound class with 1,270.5 pounds and LC-M’s Mitchell Jennings netted first in the 198-pound division with 1,336.5 pounds.

Denmon, meanwhile, will continue to enjoy the progress that the kids make.

“I love to keep kids motivated,” said Denmon. “I tend to worry about kids today, for their health. America truly has health issues and it starts with the kiddos. They need to get out of the house, get off the computers and get some exercise as much as possible. I don’t reject any kids and we’re open to anyone and we don’t charge anybody anything. Just watching them succeed is a true blessing.”