Team Juanatas-Bowens

In July 2019, Mikaella and Brianna Bowens (age 6 and 5) participated in their very first weightlifting competition. After the girls’ numerous AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) American and World records in strength sports, and participation in USA Weightlifting national competitions, mom and dad Michelle and Bryan Bowens decided to share the love of AAU and USA weightlifting within the community of Kern County. Consequently, pickleball and yoga was added to the health and wellness programs that the Bowens family shares with the community. 

Prior to the inception of Team Juanatas-Bowens (TJB) in 2022, there was no AAU Weightlifting Club nor a USA Weightlifting Club in Kern County. The four original members of TJB were Brianna, Mikaella, Michelle, and Bryan. In 2023, we were pleasantly surprised at the end of the year to have over 100 members. As of March 16, 2024 we have 144 members (8 who are adaptive athletes with special needs) and many are still signing up to join TJB. 

Our Purpose

TJB removes barriers that prevent individuals from participating in weightlifting, powerlifting, pickleball, and yoga. Even if it means breaking down and setting up equipment, and transporting barbells and weight plates across town to train athletes at their school (sometimes even at their individual homes), or even bringing yoga to the schools because there are no yoga studios east of Chester in Bakersfield. TJB is providing opportunities in weightlifting that these athletes would not be able to have otherwise. Every weightlifter on the TJB roster participates in AAU Weightlifting, but USA Weightlifting is geared for the athletes with a more competitive and driven spirit. 

Team Juanatas-Bowens is saving lives because we are promoting drug free sports to students who are battling with drug addiction. Weightlifting is a way that this individual can stay clean, because athletes are often drug tested at national competitions. Weightlifting also improves the emotional wellness of all of our athletes, because who wouldn’t feel better after setting a new personal record during a workout. TJB believes in family unity, which is why there is a Team Juanatas-Bowens Parent Club as well as our policy that at least one family member must be at every weightlifting event outside of Bakersfield. We promote proper nutrition because it is the fuel for how we train. TJB is also big on mental health because of the mind and body connection. The body is much stronger than we think, so we need to condition our minds to stop limiting us. We try to tell our athletes that when your name is called to the platform, there is no such thing as anxiety. There is a lot of work that goes into preparing any athlete before they step onto any platform. Our goal is to empower our athletes and equip them with the right tools to be successful not only in weightlifting but also in life as well. 

Providing Quality Experiences

TJB values all of our athletes and we do our best to provide the highest quality athletic programs for our athletes as well as Kern County. TJB makes it so that the athletes of Kern County do not have to travel all the way to Los Angeles or San Francisco in order to get a qualifying total for a National Meet. Coach Michelle and Bryan spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours on courses and training to both become USA Weightlifting Level 2 Certified Coaches and AAU Weightlifting International Level Coaches. They both have the credentials to Coach Weightlifting in the Olympics, and they volunteer their time to train all TJB athletes for free. In 2024, Coach Michelle and Bryan will meet the requirements to be promoted to National Coach in USA Weightlifting. By 2025, they will be promoted again to USA Weightlifting International Coaches. In the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, they will be working the entire 20 days of the Olympics to help assist with weightlifting. TJB also has the ability to host USA Weightlifting Coaches Training and AAU Powerlifting and AAU Weightlifting referee trainings. 

Our athletes train with the best equipment money can buy, and we have our end of year celebration at Seven Oaks Country Club the last Thursday before Christmas. We believe our athletes on Team deserve the best that we can offer. Team Juanatas-Bowens is in the memory making business, as we want our athletes and their families to share as many positive memories as they can while they are participating in our events. TJB also hires a photographer to take as many photos as possible and they are shared with all athletes and their families free of charge. 

Changing Minds and Changing Lives

Our job of Team Juanatas-Bowens is to change the narrative of what others say. For example, a student is no longer a problem student; that student is off drugs now; that student is no longer depressed; that kid is now representing California in a National Weightlifting Competition; that student now has friends; that kid is now watching what they eat; that dad is now involved in their child’…