Coach's Ramble #28 - Nikkolas Trillo - Panda Powerlifting

This week on the Coach's Ramble, Nikkolas Trillo joins us to reflect on his journey from lacrosse to a career in competitive powerlifting and coaching. We discuss his early experiences with high-volume training, the injuries and burnout that shaped his approach, and how he's evolved toward more sustainable programming focused on building muscle, managing fatigue, and making long-term progress. Nikkolas shares lessons learned from competing at Nationals, navigating weight-class changes, and balancing the demands of high-level powerlifting with teaching and coaching. We also get into his development as a coach, helping athletes grow through setbacks, supporting his wife's successful competitive career, and the challenges of separating coaching from personal relationships. Beyond the gym, Nikk discusses his Master's thesis research into AI in education and what the future might hold for his own competitive career, including a potential return to the platform.