A look inside a juvenile residential facility as they prepare a group of novice lifters for the USAPL High School Powerlifting National Championships.

Every year, over 90,000 juveniles in the United States are sent to residential placement facilities for the crimes they have committed. Some of those crimes include theft, assault, drug related issues, firearms possession, or, according to the Executive Director of Woodward Academy, for 'being a continual nuisance to their community.' 'Knights of Iron' profiles Woodward Academy, a residential facility of approximately 240 delinquent students as they serve young men through the establishment of a powerlifting program. Over the course of the 2011 season, the lifters participate in grueling practices with the end goal to compete at the USAPL High School Powerlifting National Championships. The 2011 event was held in Corpus Christi, Texas, during the last weekend in March. Woodward Academy has competed in the event for the past 6 years and has done remarkably well, garnering multiple individual and 5 team National Championships. This film documents as they are working towards their 6th consecutive JV team championship. As the film chronicles the team and event, it also attempts to break down stereotypes of what delinquent youth are. Under a structured, well-balanced setting, these youth behave like gentlemen and are indistinguishable from typical youth. The unique aspect of Woodward Academy's team is the fact that not only is it composed of delinquent youth, but the team is new every year and only has 5 months to prepare lifters who often times have never competed in a lifting event, much less an athletic team.—Anonymous