Second Annual APF/AAPF Georgia State Powerlifting and Bench Press Open

 

Marietta, GA.   March 29, 2003

 

The state meet was held at the Holiday Inn and drew lifters from Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Alabama and New Jersey.  Every effort was made to help the lifters have their best day ever.  The warm up room had 2 Irondawg heavy duty monolifts, 2 heavy duty Irondawg bench presses and plenty of elbow room.  The meet ran quickly and smoothly, thanks to a terrific platform and table crew.  Special thanks go out to our judges, Earl Leverett, Ann Leverett, Mark Vickers, Jim Rouse and Eric Stoker and table crew Michelle Clower and Ann Leverett.  Of course a meet is only as good as it’s platform crew, and you can’t do better than Ben Howard, Kenneth Johnson and the powerlifting team at Kell High School, provided by Coach Dan Bailey.

The bench meet opened with Fort Payne master lifter Patsy Rowe who benched 75K at a 64.9K bodyweight.  17 year old Trey Brewer opened up with an AAPF American Record 160K then immediately broke it on his second attempt with 170K.  Trey made these records without a bench shirt.  Junior lifter Michael Rubio also made an AAPF American Record with a 195K bench at 88.5K bodyweight.  His competitor, 87.3K Jason Mummaw benched 140K, missing 147.5K.  Open lifter Brantley Waites had a great day, going three for three and earning a best lifter award for his 232.5K bench at 80.3K bodyweight.  In his first meet ever, 96.3K lifter Scott Queener got his second attempt 137.5K.  South Carolina lifter Rick Donahue wasn’t in his usual form at this meet, opening easily at 125K but missing 192.5K twice.  Darrick Holmes opened with an impressive 175K at a bodyweight of 82.2K, but this was not his day and missed it on three attempts.  Likewise, 133.2K lifter Chad Justice opened at a whopping 272.5K, missed it, then went up to 305K missing it twice.  A terrific lifter on an off day.  Master lifter 44 year old Scott Kroll got his second attempt 197.5K missing a 3rd at 205K.  In the Master 50+ category, Kennesaw lifter Robert Lovelace posted a 145K on his second attempt.  56 year old Mike Mack, returning to powerlifting after a layoff of many years, benched 172.5K on his second attempt, earning himself a best lifter award. 

The AAPF full powerlifting meet began with the Annette Wright, who had a good day, going three for three in the squat and bench with a 120K and a 70K, before losing steam on the deadlift, leaving her with a 132.5K opener.  In her first competition ever, New Jersey open and submaster lifter Denise Meione started her career well, going 8 for 9 with a 127.5K squat, 65K bench and 132.5K deadlift.  Junior lifter Becky Riemer looked powerful in her first big meet and earned herself an American record, squatting 137.5K, benching 70K and deadlifting 150K.  In the teenage category, 16 year old lifter Billy Parrish had a great day, going 9 for 9 with a 137.5K squat, 110K bench and 142.5K deadlift, all at a bodyweight of only 64.1K.  17 year old lifter Randy Smith had a fine day at his first meet, coached by Eric Stoker. After a little trouble with his squat, getting a 137.5K second attempt, he sailed through the bench and deadlift 6 for 6, with a 110K and 202.5K, respectively.  17 year old Marietta lifter Nick DiLuzio took time out of his football training to compete, posting a 230K squat 145K bench and 222.5K deadlift at a 115.1K bodyweight.  18 year old Robert Hall earned himself a best lifter trophy, going 8 for 9 with a 230K squat, 157.5K bench and 235K deadlift at a bodyweight of 94.2K.  18 year old teenage and open lifter Craig Clark opened with an impressive 197.5K squat at a bodyweight of only 74.2K, but this was not his day to make it.  19 year old Eric Smith went 4 for 9 at his first meet, posting a 197.5K squat, a conservative 125K bench (missing a 237.5K third attempt) and 205K deadlift.  In the AAPF Open division, 82.5K class, Doug Riemer showed everyone what it means ‘not to give up’ when he gutted through a 227.5K squat.  He followed that with a 140K bench and 242.5K deadlift, earning himself a best lifter award.  In the 90K class, Jake Mullins had a slow start, getting his opening squat of 227.5, but warming up to a 145K bench and 242.5K deadlift.  In the 100K class, Athens lifter Steve Fogle began with a 195K squat, fought with his opening bench 3 times to post a 142.5K but went 3 for 3 on the deadlift, ending with a 210K.  In the 110K class, Mike Whiting opened easily with a 255K squat, but couldn’t make a 272.5K.  It was the same story with his bench, leaving him with a 165K, but Mike made 2 for 3 in the deadlifting, posting a 292.5K.  In the 125K class, Josh Robinson opened with an impressive 340K, but couldn’t take it further, and missed an equally impressive 225K bench.  In the submaster category 85K lifter Scott Barker went 6 for 9 with a 235K squat, 142.5K bench and 237.5K deadlift.  Rusty Whitson went 5 for 9, but still posted his best total, with a 192.5K squat, 145K bench and 200K deadlift at a 80.1K bodyweight.  Athens lifter Tom Wright didn’t have his best day, getting his opening 250K squat, a second 140K bench and opening 225K deadlift, at a 114.9K bodyweight.  Canadian transplant Robert Weaver came back to powerlifting after a long layoff and tendon injury, but showed perfect form with each lift, posting a 182.5K squat, 102.5K bench and 190K deadlift.  In the Master 40-49 category, Jeff Weaver won best lifter with his American record 267.5K squat, 157.5K bench and 265K deadlift at a bodyweight of 89.4K.  81.7K lifter Joey Keith opened much heavier than in the past, and struggled successfully with a 210K opening squat, electing to pass his other squat attempts to save strength for a 130K bench and 220K deadlift.  In the APF open division, 110K Junior and Open lifter Hartwell Strain had a great 8 for 9 day with a 277.5K squat, 195K bench and 277.5K deadlift.  125K Junior lifter Dru Fuller made all his lifts on his second attempts, with a 250K squat, 207.5K bench and 250K deadlift.  In the Open division, 75K class,  Paul Lathrop got his second attempt 125K squat, 102.5K opening bench, and saved himself from a bomb out by getting his 182.5K deadlift on the third try.  Despite a bum knee, Open and Submaster lifter Brent Tracey posted some impressive numbers, going 7 for 9 with a 335K squat, 240K bench and 287.5K deadlift at a bodyweight of 89.4K earning himself a best lifter trophy.  Also in the 90K class, Eddie Pitts went 3 for 3 on the squat, posting a 260K, got his opening 160K bench and ended with a 227.5K deadlift.  In the 110K class, Kevin ‘KT’ Thomas struggled unsuccessfully with a 345K squat before going up and making a 365K.  His 240K bench exploded to arms length in three attempts, but didn’t lock out – a problem of technique, not strength.  In the 140K class, Savoy Curtis, (coached by multi-world champion powerlifter Krista Ford) did a token 120K squat leaving himself plenty of strength to bench 3 for 3, posting a nice 235K, then letting it rip on the deadlift ending with a 277.5K.  Weighing in 113.3K, master lifter Scott Kroll improves with every meet, squatting 287.5K, and benching 197.5K, but having a little trouble on the deadlift, getting an opening 240K.  Master superheavy lifter Tony Hutson created great squatting excitement with his smooth 460K squat.  A torn bench shirt on his first attempt 295K unfortunately prevented him from finishing the meet.  The meet ended on a high energy note with special guest lifter Tee “Skinny Man” Meyers, pulling a master record 320K deadlift at a bodyweight of 86.2K.  At the end of the meet a special award presentation took place.  In recognition of his steady improvement and dedication to powerlifting, Rusty Whitson was awarded an Irondawg Bench.

This contest is dedicated to the memory of our friend Dr. Dale Lott. 

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