When it comes to community, it is said that there is strength in numbers. If you ask 32 year old Jon Moore, a Richmond Hill based powerlifter who recently secured the title of Southeast American Powerlifting Champion, he would likely tell you that even the strongest need numbers too—that is, a community of support behind them.

For Jon, support has come for years in the form of the Richmond Hill YMCA. After growing up on a ranch in the small town of Mountain View, Missouri and playing football in college, Jon relocated to Richmond Hill, where his past as an athlete made a career in personal training a natural transition. Jon began training at the YMCA with the support of the gym’s then director, Mary Arocha, but it wasn’t until a friend suggested powerlifting to Jon that he began to realize his potential to excel in the sport. After overcoming various injuries, Jon set out to compete in powerlifting and began to hone in on his training, all while still helping to train others at the YMCA. After succeeding in various smaller competitions with the help of his friend and coach Nate Bunce, Jon decided to compete in the Georgia State Powerlifting Championship, where winning 1st place and Best Lifter led him to the next task of Southeast American Regionals.

With Regionals approaching in May, Lee Ergle, a YMCA member and former RHHS teacher, was tasked with finding Jon a corporate sponsor to help him get to the competition. That’s when Miss Ergle reached out to the Richmond Hill YMCA, and the Y family began to do what it does best—support its members. With the help of Miss Ergle and countless others, the YMCA began to raise money to help send Jon and two other powerlifters, Michelle Rutan and 17-year-old Justin Walker, to Atlanta for the competition. Collectively, the YMCA raised over $1000 for the trio, providing funds for food, travel expenses, and accommodations for their trip. And yet, the support didn’t stop there. The gym also hosted a reception for Jon, Michelle, and Justin before sending them off to Atlanta, where the community gathered to provide well-wishes and a show of support going into the competition. The reception featured an opening prayer from Caesar Arocha, Mary Arocha’s husband and bodybuilder, and an encouraging word from Bob Cicharillo, a Richmond Hill-based bodybuilder who secured the title of first place at Masters Pro World in 2006. The event also included protein shakes and snacks provided by Five Star Nutrition, and a presentation of the money raised for the three competitors. Looking back on the day, Miss Ergle reflects on how the YMCA rallied around Jon, Michelle, and Justin, saying, “the Y is more than a gym, it’s like a family.”

At Regionals, the level of competition was more than Jon had ever encountered before. The first place title came down to a final lift, which according to Jon was a steep hill to climb, saying “it wasn’t just winning your weight class, it was a push to win best lifter overall, which for the 125 kilogram weight class is very, very uncommon.” When it came to it, despite the challenge, Jon managed to deadlift 771 pounds, making him winner of his weight class as well as Best Lifter Overall. The win also granted Jon his USPL Pro Card, a success that qualified him for the U.S. Powerlifting Pro Series Competition in June of 2025. Michelle and Justin also found success at the competition, with Michelle setting the state record for women’s powerlifting and Justin winning the youth division.

According to Jon, the biggest takeaway from his powerlifting experience has been the importance of recognizing and overcoming adversity. “Powerlifting, and anything you do competitively, is a small form of life in itself,” he says. “Nothing is going to come easy and there’s got to be a time when things get hard, but it’s how you handle the task at hand that it all boils down to.” Jon tells me that his goal at the Pro Series Competition is to make it to the podium, but he plans to do everything he can to win the competition. Back in Richmond Hill, Jon continues growing the powerlifting community, hosting mock meets and helping involve those younger and newer to the sport.

But regardless of what comes next, it is clear that the YMCA family will continue to be there in support. Jon, who sees hundreds of faces walk in and out of the doors of the gym daily, shares that everyone at the YMCA comes with a smile and a positive attitude. “It’s been a place for people to come and support each other and support each other’s individual journey, through what little we know about each individual’s journey.” The names surrounding Jon’s story and the story of the YMCA are countless—from Mary Arocha, Nate Bunce, and Lee Ergle, to Bob Cicharillo, Michelle Rutan, and Justin Walker—the list goes on. The common theme, however, is clear—regardless of individual success, the power of community cannot be underestimated.