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Lexie Schneider rarely went to the gym out of a fear of being judged for her lack of fitness knowledge. She would follow trends and look up workout videos on YouTube, not understanding why she didn’t look like the people in the videos. Now a regular gym-goer, she attributes her physical and mental results to Syracuse University Girl Gains.

“I was a little worried because I’m not skilled in the gym,” Schneider, treasurer and fundraising chair of SU Girl Gains, said. “But once I found out the whole purpose (of the club) was to teach women how to be comfortable in the gym setting and empower them to do their best, I was like, ‘This is way more up my alley.’”

Originally founded at San Diego State University in 2020, Girl Gains is a women’s weightlifting organization that aims to empower women in fitness spaces on college campuses. The organization aims to promote women weightlifting and encourage women to feel strong and beautiful in a community free of judgment.

Girl Gains was brought to SU in 2023 by co-founders Hannah Kudlacz and Reva-Varma Kulkarni. The co-founders hope to continue the mission of Girl Gains through SU’s chapter.

The SU organization hosts a range of events, from open gym sessions and speaker panels to hot girl walks, all centered around building strength, confidence and community.

Inspired by the national organization and her own experience as a beginner, Hannah Kudlacz, president of SU Girl Gains, wanted to create a supportive space for women to learn, grow and feel empowered in environments that often feel daunting.

“The gym can be such an intimidating space for women, especially when you’re a beginner and you don’t really know what you want to do,” Kudlacz said. “I wanted to replicate the support I got from my sister and best friend for other girls.”

That emphasis on mindset and support carries into the leadership culture behind the scenes. During the fall 2024 semester, Kudlacz and other girls in the club would meet at her apartment and discuss how to grow the club. This was also a time when the girls bonded and talked about their days.

Those intentional efforts to build community have paid off. The impact of the club is already visible; after last semester’s involvement fair, nearly 70 new members showed up. Kudlacz and others had to pull chairs from other rooms to meet the demand.

Lily Zuckerman | Design Editor

Schneider handles both finances and fundraising, two essential functions for making events like vision board nights, guest speakers and club formals possible. She said fundraising is more fun than financing because she gets to organize merchandise drops and have special speakers attend events. Among those events, vision board night is a club favorite.

“You get to put all your goals down and see what you’re gonna take off by the end of the semester,” Schneider said. “I keep mine somewhere I can see from my bed. It’s a constant reminder.”

The club also has collaborations with other student organizations like SU Skateboarding Club. Kudlacz said while mixing fitness with fun and new experiences keeps members engaged, specifically collaborating with SUSC pushes the girls out of their comfort zones.

For many members, what sets SU Girl Gains apart is its non-judgmental, welcoming approach. Casey Keller, a junior in SU Girl Gains, shared those sentiments. One of the main reasons Keller got into weightlifting was her prior experience from high school.

Now, Keller tries to help her friends and others get comfortable in the weight room, especially those who may feel intimidated.

“You kind of have to go into it with the attitude of, ‘I deserve this space, I deserve to be here,’ just as much as anyone else,” Keller said.

Schneider said the community is based on the support they give each other. They want each girl to become the best version of themselves — the real goals aren’t just physical, but a “lifestyle change.”

Inclusivity and representation are also fundamentals of the club’s mission. The most important thing for Kudlacz is that the club showcases people of all body types and ethnic backgrounds.

Looking forward, both Kudlacz and Schneider are hopeful. They envision partnerships between the club and gyms, wellness brands and other organizations. For Kudlacz, fitness is framed as a full experience that goes beyond physical appearance.

“It wasn’t even about what my body looked like,” Kudlacz said. “It was just the feeling that I get every single time — finishing a really hard workout, or just showing up for myself. That in itself changed the game for me.”

Published on March 27, 2025 at 1:28 am