Call Danny Gonzalez a heavy lifter.
The West Aurora senior is preparing for his third season as the unsung starting fullback for the football team. He also competes in Olympic-style weightlifting, where he’s done quite well.
In late June, Gonzalez finally took it a step further at the Las Vegas Convention Center, adding national champion to his resume after taking second place twice and fourth once.
Gonzalez had a snatch of 111 kilograms (244.7 pounds) and clean and jerk of 147 kilograms (324 pounds) to win the 17-under title in the competition conducted by USA Weightlifting.
“I played football in fifth grade and was kind of skinny,” Gonzalez said.
Now 225 pounds, the 5-foot-5 Gonzalez was describing how he got his start in lifting under the guidance of Thomas Kraus, an instructor and coach at West Aurora.
Gonzalez’s mom, Adrienne Rodriguez, had joined a friend for workouts at Yorkville CrossFit, where Kraus also coached.
“I went there for their kids program,” Gonzalez said. “My mom put me in it to help me gain extra strength.”
Kyle Phelps, who has been Gonzalez’s football position coach for three years, was scouting the district’s eighth grade teams to check out potential incoming talent when he saw Gonzalez play for the first time.
“Back then, Danny was pretty slight,” Phelps said. “He was such a little kid, but he’s put on so much good weight. He’s big and strong, and we just have him go out there and hit.”
Gonzalez doesn’t get many carries except for short-yardage situations but gives the team a boost as a blocking back.
“Sometimes, I’m used as a puller,” Gonzalez said. “But usually, if the ball gets run to my side, I have to seal the edge.”
West Aurora coach Nate Eimer thinks the world of Gonzalez, an ultimate grinder and team player.
“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Eimer said. “He’s an awesome kid.
“He was the leading rusher on our freshman team but never complains about his current role, blocking 95% of the time. He does all the stuff people don’t see.”
An off-the-charts work ethic has served Gonzalez well in lifting competitions, but he brings more, according to Phelps.
“He’s so smart and understands the game,” Phelps said. “I don’t have to explain things to him as far as angles go. Tell him once and he just gets it.”
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing in the weight room, however. Not with the pandemic prompting West Aurora to go to remote learning while shutting down after-school programs.
“I was just lifting in my garage and didn’t know where to go,” Gonzalez said.
Kraus referred him to Tom Sroka, a former protégé who runs his own program in Villa Park, and they hit it off.
“I went to Aurora University and (Kraus) was running the Aurora Weightlifting Club and was a mentor to me,” Sroka said.
After pandemic restrictions were lifted at West Aurora, Gonzalez worked with both — three times a week at school with Kraus and twice with Sroka.
“We were tag-teaming his coaching,” Sroka said. “On paper, the guy Danny beat for the title should have won. I told Danny he’d need a perfect day.”
Turns out he had a big one.
“He had a huge jump,” Sroka said. “Normally, you’re looking to add 10-15 pounds to your personal best at a meet like that, and Danny added almost 20.”
It didn’t shock Sroka.
Gonzalez had become his youngest lifter to back squat 500 pounds, hitting the mark at age 16.
“He competes with a wide range of lifters in the gym, many of them older, and everybody was blown away,” Sroka said. “Danny crushed it.”
Gonzalez hopes to keep doing it with his blocks in the fall.
“After this fall, my career might be over,” Gonzalez said of football. “I probably won’t play in college, but I think I’ll continue doing this (weightlifting) through college.”
Sroka is hoping to help Gonzalez find the right fit.
Phelps, overseeing a recent lifting session for his players, could see it.
“Danny is a monster here,” Phelps said. “And he puts up monster numbers.”