Team Juanatas-Bowens Des Moines Webpage
DSM Youth/Teen/Junior Scholarship
Team Juanatas-Bowens is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting athletes through charitable giving and expanded access to strength sports opportunities. TJB is offering an AAU Junior Olympic Games Scholarship for eligible athletes ages 5 through 23 on a first-come, first-served basis. To be considered for the scholarship, each athlete must individually purchase an AAU Strength Sports Membership before participating. AAU Strength Sports Memberships may be purchased at the following website: https://aausports.org/join-aau-2025/. When completing the scholarship application form, please indicate the event or events you would like to compete in and complete the written response section. Priority will be given to athletes who are requesting scholarship support for one event. The written response section will be used to help determine which youth athletes may be eligible to have second and potentially additional event entry fees covered free of charge. If you are interested in applying for the AAU Junior Olympic Games Scholarship, please complete the Google Form by clicking the Application Link Here. For questions or additional information, please email us at DSM@TeamJuanatas-Bowens.org.
Our history
Team Juanatas-Bowens, also known as TJB, began in Bakersfield, California as a family-centered strength sports program led by Dr. Bryan Bowens and Dr. Michelle Bowens. What started as a way to provide structured training, discipline, and opportunity for young athletes has grown into a community-based nonprofit program serving youth, adults, seniors, and adaptive athletes. TJB was built on the belief that strength sports teach more than lifting technique — they teach confidence, character, discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
Our mission
Team Juanatas-Bowens, also known as TJB, is committed to supporting Des Moines youth athletes by creating access, opportunity, and confidence through strength sports. Our mission is to help athletes grow stronger physically, mentally, and emotionally through Powerlifting, Weightlifting, Feats of Strength, and positive competition experiences. For the AAU Junior Olympic Games in Des Moines, TJB wants to offer fully funded entry fee scholarships to local athletes who want the opportunity to compete. These scholarships will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis while funding is available. TJB may also be able to cover second and potentially third event entry fees free of charge, depending on available scholarship funds. Each youth athlete will be responsible for obtaining their own AAU Membership, which is around $25. Young adult athletes ages 18–23 are also responsible for obtaining their own AAU Membership, which is around $35. TJB believes every athlete deserves the chance to step onto the platform, represent their community, and experience the pride of competing at a national event. Through this effort, Team Juanatas-Bowens hopes to remove financial barriers, encourage local participation, and help Des Moines athletes become part of the AAU Junior Olympic Games experience.
AAU Junior Olympic Games Age groups, Weight Classes, & Event
AGE DIVISIONS: This will be a single age championship. Females and males will be grouped as follows:
Youth (5 and under, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11,12-13); Teen (14-15, 16-17, 18-19), Junior (20-23)
WEIGHT CLASSES KG: Weight Classes (kg) – for Kettlebell, Powerlifting, Weightlifting, and Feats of Strength:
Women: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 67.5, 75, 82.5, 90, 100, 100+
Men: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 44, 48, 52, 60, 67.5, 75, 82.5, 90, 100, 110, 125, 140, 140+
Events: Events & Disciplines
Athletes may enter one or more disciplines, subject to schedule and registration limits. A separate entry fee applies to each discipline, with discounted rates for additional strength sports events entered.
AAU Kettlebell
AAU Kettlebell at the Junior Olympic Games showcases time-based kettlebell endurance events in which athletes accumulate as many technically correct repetitions as possible within a fixed time limit. Athletes compete on platforms in age, bodyweight, and kettlebell-weight divisions, with separate male and female categories where entries justify. All events emphasize safe technique, fixation (full control at lockout), and consistent pacing.
Events offered (select all that apply during registration):
Jerk (1 or 2 bells)
Snatch (1 bell)
Long Cycle (1 or 2 bells)
Biathlon (Jerk + Snatch)
Triathlon (Jerk + Snatch + Long Cycle)
Typical youth sets will be 10 minutes in total duration. Kettlebell weights will be scaled by age, bodyweight class, and division to ensure a safe and positive experience for developing athletes.
AAU Powerlifting
AAU Powerlifting at the Junior Olympic Games will feature both Full Power and Push–Pull formats. Powerlifting is a total-body test of maximal strength in three classic barbell lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. Athletes receive three attempts in each contested lift; the best successful attempt in each is added together to form a Powerlifting total.
Events offered (select all that apply during registration):
Full Power (Squat, Bench Press, Deadlift)
Push–Pull (Bench Press + Deadlift)
Bench Press – Single Lift
Deadlift – Single Lift
All younger 11 and under youth powerlifting will be contested in raw divisions (no supportive suits or bench shirts), with allowable equipment and rules of performance taken directly from the AAU Powerlifting rulebook. Depth in the squat, pauses on the chest in the bench press, and lockout in the deadlift are judged by a three-referee panel using a simple light system.
AAU Weightlifting
Weightlifting at the AAU Junior Olympic Games will be contested in the two Weightlifting lifts: the Snatch and the Clean & Jerk. Athletes receive three attempts in each lift, and their best successful Snatch and best successful Clean & Jerk are added together for a Weightlifting total.
Event offered:
Weightlifting (Snatch + Clean & Jerk total)
Competition is organized by age and bodyweight categories, with separate male and female divisions. Bars, plates, platforms, and refereeing standards will follow AAU Weightlifting rules. The event is designed to mirror the look and feel of a national-level meet while remaining welcoming to first-time lifters.
AAU Feats of Strength
AAU Feats of Strength at the Junior Olympic Games provides a combine-style experience that measures explosive power, muscular endurance, and functional strength through a series of standardized tests. Events are selected from the AAU Feats of Strength rulebook and adapted to be age-appropriate for youth athletes while still highlighting strength, speed, and athleticism.
Event groups offered (athletes may enter one, two, or all three):
Muscular Explosiveness
– Vertical Jump – Standing Broad Jump – 20m Sprint – Medicine Ball Chest Pass
Muscular Endurance
– Front Squat for Reps – Bench Press for Reps – Deadlift for Reps – Overhead Press for Reps
Muscular Extremist
– Farmers Carry – Tire Flip – Sled Push – Zercher Carry
Scoring will follow AAU Feats of Strength rules, with distances, times, or repetitions converted into