44 heft iron at Fort Sill power lift contest

By Ms. Marie Berberea (TRADOC)March 31, 2014

Power lifting
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. Kenneth Metcalf readies the bar across his shoulders for the back squat during the Second Annual 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery March Mayhem Power Lifting Competition March 22 at Rinehart Fitness Center. For more photos from the compet... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Back squat
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Melissa Williams gets off to an unsteady start in her first back squat lift attempt of 80 pounds. She was one of 13 women who signed up for the Second Annual 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery's March Mayhem Power Lifting Competition March 22 a... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla. -- The strength of the community was literally showcased March 22 at Rinehart Fitness Center for the second annual 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery's March Mayhem Power Lifting Competition.

Lt. Col. Shaun Lott, Bruiser Nation commander, began the competition two years ago because he said it was a sport that needed to be supported.

Forty-four Soldiers, Airmen, military spouses and community members from the surrounding area signed up for the competition. Thirteen of those were woman which was a huge increase from last year's two.

"It's good to have a better turn out. It's more fun that way because there's more competition. You've got other people doing a constructive recreational activity," said Tara Spencer, who took first place in her weight class lifting a total of 560 pounds.

Competitors began weighing in early that morning and then they began their mental prepwork.

Before each lift, the competitors walked up to the weights to a song of their choosing. There was also a screen behind them displaying their name, hometown, occupation, and how much weight they were attempting to lift. A screen adjacent to them showed who was ?"up to bat."

"We wanted it to be a fun event and two to be very motivating. We know that people like to be motivated by music so if they're able to pick their song to get their juices flowing they can lift more." said Lott.

As each competitor faced the weights, they were surrounded by three spotters and three judges. One head judge and two side judges checked for proper form and a complete lift. Each competitor needed to receive at least two out of three white paddles to move on to a higher weight. If they received more red, than white paddles they had to stay at the attempted weight and fully complete it before moving up.

"If you don't complete the lift you have to go back to the same weight you just attempted. So you can't go down. There's some strategy involved. Some folks think oh I can do whatever. And then they mess it up and they're stuck they can't go lower," said Lott.

"It's kind of like a chess match with yourself and with your competitors," said Jonathan Worthy who placed third in the 211-plus weight class lifting a total of 1300 pounds. "You don't really want to let everyone know what you're about to do, but you kind of want to see what everyone's going to do because the person with the highest total wins. But it's really a competition with yourself."

As he slowly increased the weight in his attempts in the back squat event he said he was saving his energy for his favorite event: the dead lift.

"It's the strongest one and there's no momentum. It's just you picking up a heavy weight off the ground. You get to use all of your aggression out in one lift," said Worthy.

This was Worthy's second weightlifting competition and many others had never competed before. Lott said since the competition was not officially sanctioned it was a great opportunity for those new to the sport to dip their barbells in.

Lott said deployment is what got him into the sport.

"Being stationed in Korea there's not a whole lot to do. One of my buddies invited me to the gym and ever since then I was hooked. go in there and you meditate, lift weights, kind of think, unwind and get your adrenaline going," said Lott.

Lott said you build confidence and your health overall by lifting weights and he hopes to see the competition continue after he leaves command this summer.

"It's a mental thing. Mentally if you can lift a certain amount of weight and you feel like you can do anything. It's a sense of empowerment," said Lott.

For more photos from the competition, visit 3-6th ADA's Facebook page or go to www.flickr.com/fortsillcannoneer.

Women's 95 - 138 lbs.

1st Place-Tara Spencer Total: 560 pounds. Squat: 190 pounds. Bench Press: 105 pounds. Dead lift: 265 pounds.

2nd Place-Hanna Mixon Total: 380 pounds. Squat: 135 pounds. Bench Press: 70 pounds. Dead lift: 175 pounds.

3rd Place-Melissa Williams Total: 295 pounds. Squat: 105 pounds. Bench Press: 80 pounds. Dead lift: 110 pounds.

Women's 139+ lbs.

1st Place-Ashley Heddy Total: 615 pounds. Squat: 215 pounds. Bench Press: 155 pounds. Dead lift: 245 pounds.

2nd Place-Nicole Hudgins Total: 610 pounds. Squat: 185 pounds. Bench Press: 140 pounds. Dead lift: 285 pounds.

3rd Place-Laura Standley Total: 590 pounds. Squat: 215 pounds. Bench Press: 125 pounds. Dead lift: 250 pounds.

Men's 170 - 190 lbs.

1st Place-Jordan Nofsinger Total: 1400 pounds. Squat: 485 pounds. Bench Press: 290 pounds. Dead lift: 625 pounds.

2nd Place- Jacques Cozart Total: 1270 pounds. Squat: 425 pounds. Bench Press: 320 pounds. Dead lift: 525 pounds.

3rd Place-Taylor Fuerst Total: 1225 pounds. Squat: 440 pounds. Bench Press: 290 pounds. Dead lift: 495 pounds.

Men's 191 - 210 lbs.

1st Place-Zachary Smith Total: 1385 pounds. Squat: 420 pounds. Bench Press: 350 pounds. Dead lift: 615 pounds.

2nd Place-Taireen Keltz Total: 1380 pounds. Squat: 515 pounds. Bench Press: 330 pounds. Dead lift: 535 pounds.

3rd Place-Jeremy Swanson Total: 1330 pounds. Squat: 470 pounds. Bench Press: 385 pounds. Dead lift: 475 pounds.

Men's 211+ lbs.

1st Place- Charles Kilpatrick Total: 1305 pounds. Squat: 405 pounds. Bench Press: 365 pounds. Dead lift: 535 pounds.

2nd Place-Christopher Meyer Total: 1305 pounds. Squat: 435 pounds. Bench Press: 315 pounds. Dead lift: 555 pounds.

3rd Place-Johnathan Worthy Total: 1300 pounds. Squat: 405 pounds. Bench Press: 350 pounds. Dead lift: 545 pounds.

"Thanks to all who competed in this event," said Lott.