The first annual APF/AAPF Georgia State Powerlifting and Bench Press Open was held April 13, 2002 and drew 45 entries from GA, TN, AL and FL. To ensure the best lifting possible a new heavy-duty Irondawg Power monolift and 3 Irondawg bench presses were used. Thanks to John Grove for supplying another monolift for the warmup room. The Holiday Inn Express provided a great venue, with a large warm-up room and a great meet site. Many thanks to our great judges, Eric Stoker, Ronnie Baker, Mark Vickers, Earl Leverett and Ann Leverett, and our table crew, announcer Madeline Colbert, table chief Ann Leverett, expediters Jamie Green and Ed Angstrom and platform manager Jim Rouse. Final mention and top praise must go to the hardest working and most important people in any contest, the spotter/loaders. Brilliant teamwork and perfect spotting were provided by Ben Howard, Joe Jordan, Ryan Cieslak, Chris Stewart, Eric Stoker and monolift lever operator extraordinaire Michelle Clower.

Bench press Meet:

In the AAPF open men’s division, Joe Horton had a good day, getting his second attempt 170K. His fellow 100K open lifter Pat Hall opened with a whopping 250K, but this wasn’t his day to make it in a meet, missing 3 attempts. We’re sure he’ll come back and nail it next time. In the AAPF Master Men 50+ division, Robert Lovelace had a great day going 3 for 3, ending with a 142.5K. In the APF open and submaster men’s divisions Jeff Hudson also had a 3 for 3 day, ending with 210K. David Pate also competed as an open and submaster lifter, settling for his opener this time, 175K. Open lifter Rico Bravo hit 242.5K on his second attempt and submaster lifter Robert Canecchio couldn’t get past his opener on this day, ending with 147.5K. Master lifter Scott Kroll got his 2nd attempt 195K, but couldn’t quite bring home 205K.

Full Power Meet: The first lifter of the day was 11 year old Roy Lee Fowler (one half of Team Fowler, along with his dad Andy) who squatted 45K, benched 27.5 and deadlifted a whopping 70K. We look forward to seeing lots more of this boy. 15 year old Kyle Davis was inspired to enter this meet after helping spot/load at another meet the week before. With virtually no lifting gear, Kyle had a great 8 for 9 day, with a 205K squat, 115K bench and 175K deadlift, at a bodyweight of 120.9K. A 16 year old lifter with enormous potential is Nick DiLunzio, who attempted AAPF American Teenage records on all three lifts, and established a new record in the squat with a 225K at a 109.1K bodyweight. Nick also walked away with a nice 120K bench and 210K deadlift. 18 year old teenage lifter Will Key had one of those days, getting his opening squat on his third attempt but still posted a nice 100K squat 97.5K bench and 162.5K deadlift. Three men entered the Junior division. APF lifter Dan Carpenter day progressively improved as he got his opening 142.5K squat, 2nd attempt 112.5K bench and made all three deads ending with a 185K. Ken Moody had a 7 for 9 day, getting all 3 squats ending with a 200k, making his second bench on his third attempt with 132.5K and his second attempt deadlift at 240K. Dru Fuller went 6 for nine with a 205K squat, 142.5 bench and 200 deadlift at a bodyweight of 126K. The lightest weight class in the Open Men’s division was 82.5K. In the AAPF, Joey Keith hoped to lift but in the end had to bow out due to injury so Sean Fuller found himself alone in his weight class. Although he didn’t have his best day, he did a very respectable 205K squat, 142.5 bench and 27.5 deadlift. In the APF, David ‘Tank’ Williams was the sole 182.5 lifter, and had a stellar 9 for 9 day, squatting 282.5K, benching 190K and deadlifting 252.5K. In the 100K class AAPF, Danny Dover went 7 for 9, making an American Record deadlift on his 2nd and 3rd attempts. Danny ended the day with a 280K squat, 185K bench and a whopping 307.5 deadlift, earning him the AAPF best lifter trophy. Stephen Fogle had a good day with a 185K squat that was so explosive his feet nearly left the platform; he only got his opening bench of 122.5K passed, but then went 3 for 3 on his deadlifts, ending with 205K. Close on Stephen Fogle’s heels was Kevin Prickett, who went 8 for 9 with a 182.5K squat, 115K bench and 200K deadlift. in the APF, Christopher Reynolds went 7 for 9, missing thirds in the squat and bench but having a great deadlift day, posting a 260K squat, 162.5K bench and 272.5K deadlift. John Brandon’s day improved as it went along, getting a first squat attempt with 185K, then making all attempts in the bench and deadlift, with a 185K and 240K respectively. The 110K class was occupied by 3 APF lifters. Although Clay Castile didn’t go 9 for 9 this day, he still posted some massive numbers and earned the APF best lifter trophy with a 350K squat, 222.5 bench and 312.5K deadlift. Pat Watson’s day started slow with only his 1st 255K squat passed but he proceeded to nail every lift after that, ending with a 200K bench and a 272.5 K deadlift. David Jones also started slow and finished strong, getting openers in the squat with 305K and bench with 167.5K, then going 3 for 3 in the deadlift with 250K. The 125K APF division was hotly contested. Mike Lanier posted the highest total with a 347.5K squat, 212.5K bench and 312K deadlift, despite missing his 3rd attempts in all 3 lifts. Kevin ‘KT’ Thomas was right on his heels also missing some 3rd attempts but posting big numbers with a 317.5K squat, 237.5K bench and 307.5K deadlift. Nathan Bramlett had an excellent day, missing only a 3rd attempt squat, making a 307.5K squat, a massive 260K bench and 280K deadlift. Although Rico Bravo didn’t have his best day, he still posted some impressive numbers with a 320K opening squat, 242.5K bench press and 272.5K deadlift. Savoy Curtis, coached by world class 82.5K lifter Krista Ford, rounded out the class going 3 for 3 on his squat and deadlift but hitting a sticking point on his bench, ending up with a 332.5K squat, 182.5K bench and 272.5Kdeadlift. The 140K class had one outstanding APF lifter, Jay Rhyne. Although going 4 for 9, he still posted some big numbers with a 370K squat, 237.5K bench and a 302.5K deadlift. In the 140K+ class, Kieran Kidder (of WPO fame) posted the biggest numbers of the day with a 395K squat, 242.5 bench and 287.5 deadlift. The AAPF division had 2 submaster lifters and 3 master lifters. 82.5K lifter Rusty Whitson had a nice 8 for 9 day missing only his final deadlift and posting a 175K squat, 137.5K bench and 170K deadlift. Athens own Tom Wright went 5 for 9, nailing his missed second attempts on the third try and ending with a 272.5K squat, 140K bench and 237.5K deadlift. Master lifter 40-49 William Hickey had a great day overall, getting all three squats and deads, hitting a sticking point only on the bench, where he was forced to settle for his opener. Hickey’s lifts were 182.5K squat, 120K bench and 205K deadlift. The two master lifters 50+ were Danny Thompson, in the 75K class and Robert Lovelace, an 82.5K lifter. Danny went 6 for 6 in the squat and deadlift, but had to try his opening bench 3 times. He ended with a 182.5K squat, 125K bench and 212.5K deadlift, earning him a master best lifter trophy. Robert Lovelace couldn’t have asked for more, going 9 for 9 and posting a 195K squat, 142.5K bench and 212.5K deadlift for a new American Record in the AAPF Master’s 50-54. The APF had 4 submaster lifters and one master lifter. In the submaster division, big 140K+ lifter Jeff Henley hit all his seconds and missed his thirds, still pulling off a best lifter win as an APF Master, with a 365K squat, 197.5K bench and 320K deadlift. John Hamilton had a happy 9 for 9 day with a 285K squat, 220K bench and 267.5K deadlift. Robert Canecchio had one of those hit and miss days, getting a second attempt squat and 2 first attempt bench and deadlifts, ending with a 190K squat, 147.5K bench and 205K deadlift. Andy Fowler had a near perfect day going 8 for 9 and nailing his missed second attempt bench the third time around, posting a 170K squat, 132.5K bench and 192.5K deadlift. In the master 40-49 class, Scott Kroll also had a great day, missing only his final bench, ending with a 287.5K squat, 195K bench and 242.5K deadlift.

This meet is dedicated to Athens powerlifter Dale Lott. Dale, those Masters records are just waiting for you….see you on the platform next year!