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Laurie Lamp came to just bench and dead lift. And she did very well at both. Her bench was 75 kilos/165 lbs. and her dead lift was 95 kilos/209 lbs. while in the 123 class. Ali McWeeny, who holds 12 state lifting records since she started in 2004, took time away from school to bench and dead lift. Ali hit 62.5 kilos/138 lbs. in the bench and 127.5 kilos/281 lbs. in the dead lift. Just a fabulous group of people to be around.

The men saw some first timers also. Kyle Christensen was in his first meet and had a tough time getting depth for his squats. Not to be done for the day he came back with a bench of 37.5 kilos/83 lbs. and a deadlift of 92.5 kilos/204 lbs. Nice work for a first time platform guy. Sangwoo Lee stepped on for his first meet ever and had a very decent day. His squat was 115 kilos/254 lbs., his bench was 50 kilos/110 lbs. and his dead lift was 140 kilos/309 lbs. Roman Gavrishov was also a first timer. He squatted 120 kilos/265 lbs. He got a bit impatient in the bench and got ahead of the commands, but his dead lift came in at 142.5 kilos/314 lbs. Young William Smith was in his first USAPL meet after having lifted in the unofficial high state meet and did he respond well. At 132 pounds he hammered out a squat of 145 kilos/320 lbs., benched 90 kilos/198 lbs. and dead lifted 137.5 kilos/303 lbs. Ian Allen was also in his first meet ever. He is also a member of the Nisqually League Football Champs from Fife High and just wants to make it all better. He squatted a cautious 95 kilos/209 lbs., benched 82.5 kilos/182 lbs., and dead lifted 160 kilos/353 lbs. John Rhodes is also a member of that football team entering his 2nd meet. John came focused and patient by squatting 145 kilos/320 lbs., benching 125 kilos/276 lbs. and pulling 175 kilos/386 lbs. Andrew Schaefer learned from last year and stayed focused as well. Andrew hit 137.5 kilos/303 lbs., 82.5 kilos/182 lbs. and pulled 160 kilos/353 lbs. to total 380 kilos/838 lbs. Andrew was also VERY instrumental in helping set up the gym for the contest. I would have been WAY behind had he not taken charge.

Bob Knudsen is always there with steady lifting and a smile for everyone. Bob squatted 115 kilos/254 lbs., benched a State Record 112.5 kilos/ 248 lbs. and pulled 145 kilos/ 320 lbs. all as a MASTER 5. Speaking of Master 5 lifters, Dick Schuller came to test himself a bit before going to Miami for the Nationals. Dick lifted RAW this day and squatted 145 kilos/ 320 lbs. for a State Record, benched 100 kilos/220 lbs. and pulled a State Record 182.5 kilos/402 lbs. to total a State Record 440 kilos/ 970 lbs. Dick also helped take a load of the paper trail by picking up the drug testing duties - of course he presented it as a “Christmas” present at the awards session. What a guy! Cesar Granados was in his third meet and he has learned well. Cesar opened with 155 kilos/342 lbs. in his squat, hit a bench of 92.5 kilos/204 lbs. and pulled a solid 160 kilos/353 lbs. Big Richard Gutierrez was also in his first meet going RAW the whole way. Richard has made great progress in just two months of work. He squatted a solid 145 kilos/320 lbs., benched 92.5 kilos/204 lbs. and dead lifted 170 kilos/ 375 lbs. Chris Wood coaches track at PLU and took time out to visit and push some weights around. He squatted a fine 150 kilos/331 lbs., benched 115 kilos/254 lbs. and pulled 180 kilos/397 lbs. while at a RAW 165 lbs. He is also a Certified Strength Coach.

Stephen Harp was our only Special Olympian for the day and he had a very good day. Stephen came to bench and dead lift and came away with lifts of 70 kilos/154 lbs. and 115 kilos/256 lbs. Way to go Stephen!! James Prater was also a single lift guy this day. James only wanted to dead lift and he left with a meet record of 185 kilos/408 lbs. Way to go James!! Travis Steichen came in at 165 and won the Silver medal for his efforts of 135 kilos/298 lbs. in the squat, 130 kilos/287 lbs. in the bench and 175 kilos/ 386lbs. in the dead lift. Travis’ first meet was this one last year. Nice to see him back this year. Jake Garbush was another return visitor to our gym and he didn’t disappoint. He squatted 150 kilos/331 lbs, benched 127.5 kilos/281 lbs., and pulled a VERY BIG 230 kilos/507 lbs. in the dead lift to end his day. A pretty quiet Robert White came to show off in the bench and showed he has the stuff. Robert benched a VERY good 125 kilos/276 lbs. in the Master 5 RAW division. Like my hat says – Old Guys Rule!! Danny Hatfield was in his first meet and did two lifts. He benched 92.5 kilos/204 lbs. and dead lifted 172.5 kilos/380 lbs. to finish his day.

Doug Kohls has some good experience and is in his first year at WSU. He has been using the weight room in Pullman VERY well. Though he chose to only dead lift today he finished with a State Record 220 kilos/485 lbs. Quite a lift for a long and formerly lean guy. Pierce Lofton was in his second meet and he also has learned well. Pierce squatted 155 kilos/ 342 lbs., benched 102.5 kilos/226 lbs. and pulled 182.5 kilos/402 lbs. for the day. Mike Maury was here for the second time and had a pretty good day. Mike hit lifts of 197.5 kilos/435 lbs., 142.5 kilos/314 lbs. and 210 kilos/463 lbs. for his day. Newcomer David Dietz ad a good day also. David hit 182.5 kilos/402 lbs. in the squat, 97.5 kilos/215 lbs. in the bench and 227.5 kilos/ 502 lbs. in the dead lift. Not a bad day for a rookie! No relation to David, but a great all around guy John Dietz came to bench and dead lift. John pounded a very fine bench of 170 kilos/375 lbs. and finished his 6 for 6 day with a dead lift of 192.5 kilos/424 lbs. Nice job after having only lifted in a meet 5 weeks before. John has also helped out the Fife kids in the past by donating some of his gear for them to use. One of them used some of it at this meet. Always full of energy Mel Hara came ready to perform this day. Mel opened at 167.5 kilos/369 lbs. came back in the bench with a 130 kilos/287 lbs. and finished with 190 kilos/419 lbs in the dead lift. Mel’s energy was also instrumental in helping me be successful in my first foray into the National Masters scene. Too much fun. Jonathon Siregar is also a newcomer to USAPL. Jonathon had a very good day also. He opened with 185 kilos/408 lbs. in the squat, benched 155 kilos/342 lbs. and dead lifted 210 kilos/463 lbs. A very confident young man.

Pone Cooley came to just bench and did just that with a fine lift of 115 kilos/254 lbs. Roul Chwalek had his first day on the platform last year and had a pretty good day then. He came in expecting more in his bench and got himself a State Record of 115 kilos/ 254 lbs. in the M3 division. Aging gracefully I’d say. Bernard Franklin was also a bench only guy today. Had a little trouble with the rules apps, but settled into it very well to finish with a 145 kilo/320 lbs. day. William Hoyt was in his first meet also and was a bench only guy also. William learned the rules apps as he went, but still got himself a State Record also. William benched 60 kilos/132 lbs. on his first day on the platform. William Rogers came in meaning business. William squatted 275 kilos/606 lbs. to start his day then went 192.5 kilos/424 lbs. and finished with 272.5 kilos/600 lbs. in the dead lift. David Marx was also a new guy. David did well today. He squatted 237.5 kilos/ 524 lbs., benched 152.5 kilos/ 336 lbs and dead lifted 260 kilos/ 573 lbs to end his day. Gilmore Reboton has been around for a while. He knows how to do things and started off with a 205 kilos/ 456 lbs. squat, went 125 kilos/276 lbs. in the bench and 227.5 kilos/ 502 lbs in the dead lift. Nathaniel DuFour came down to lift big and didn’t disappoint. After going 240 kilos/529 lbs in the squat he didn’t accept my offer to lift off for him in the bench (kids these days I tell ya), and lifted ALL his attempts off by himself finishing with a 175 kilos/386 lbs. bench and then going 287.5 kilos/ 644 in his dead lift. Ken gack had a very hard start in the squats today missing all three of his attempts. Not a normal thing for Ken who usually adjusts well, but it wasn’t to be today. He did, however, come back solid in the bench and dead lift powering up 235 kilos/518 lbs. in that bench and finishing with a 265 kilos/584 lbs. in the dead lift. Tony Waters is also a pretty energetic guy and very focused on lift days. Not only fun to watch, but a nice guy along with it. Tony was 6 for 6 going into the dead lift before he missed a lift. Not until lift number 8. Tony went 272.5 kilos/601 lbs. for his squat, 162.5 kilos/358 lbs. in his bench and then 227.5 kilos/502 lbs. for his dead lift.

Jayson Kline continues to amaze. His first foray on the platform was our beginning push/pull meet in 2005. This past year he finished 7th at the World Juniors. He travels a LOT to Kent to train with Roger Hendrix and it clearly has paid off. He has rewritten the record books steadily and today was no different. Jayson opened at 310 kilos/ 683 lbs. in the squats, moved to 205 kilos/ 456 lbs. in the bench and ended the day with a massive 270 kilos/595 lbs. dead lift. Not a bad day at the office I’d say. The last two guys are the epitome of big lifting in our state and on the world masters scene. Kevin Stewart opened his squats at 327.5 kilos/722 lbs before missing at 806 lbs. he then went to 255 kilos/562 lbs. to open his bench, but it stalled right at the top so he repeated it and then went to 280 kilos/ 617 lbs., but couldn’t get it to touch. Another day is near on that one. Kevin finished his day with a dead lift of 272.5 kilos/600 lbs to total 1884 for the day. Roger Hendrix came in ready to blow out the American Records for his age and weight class. He ended up setting three American records for the day. He started up at 325 kilos/716 lbs. in the squats and scared the dickens out of us when he got his head to far forward and almost ate the platform. Fortunately the spotters were fast. Roger hit that weight before he was done in the squats and moved to the bench. He chose 205 kilos/ 452 lbs. to go with and had us scared again when he almost had that one for lunch before he came back and got it before missing 212.5 kilos/468 lbs. He finished his day with a record 315 kilos/ 694 lbs. dead lift to total 1863. My goodness what a privilege to be able to have watched this day unfold.

Normally I would finish with the Best Lifter Awards, but I will extend a HUGE apology here instead. I missed a couple things during the day while conducting the business of the meet and simply screwed a couple of them up. There was also a misread on my part of the computer results. They didn’t really “printout” for us through no one’s fault so I went with the WILKs formulas without cross checking those on the totals. It was just a “miss” on my part trying to get you all home after a LONG day. I will make sure all who deserve their plaques get theirs in due time ( once the order is done ). But I would like to extend here what I said that night about the overall graciousness of the lifting community. I don’t feel any of this would happen without that aspect of the sport or to even not hammer me too badly for my mistakes. We all love to compete in some manner and enjoy the rewards for that competition whatever they may be.

THANKS to all of you for a great day and hope to see you again next year!!!