GAINESVILLE — It might or might not have been a home-field advantage, but it was literally a strong day Saturday for members of the Georgia IronDawgs Powerlifting team at the American Powerlifting Committee (APC) State Championships at the Iron Beast gym in Gainesville, the IronDawgs headquarters.
Several members of the 'Dawgs came away with state championships in various age and weight divisions, setting Georgia and American records along the way. As a state meet, only state and national records could be set. World marks in the APC have to be set at either national or world championship meets.
Pacing the IronDawgs on the day was Jefferson’s Andy Williamson. Competing in the Masters Men’s 110 kilogram (242.51 pounds) 50-54 age group, Williamson won the state title and was named the Men’s Best Lifter in the push/pull class, setting state and American records with his benchpress of 165 kg/363.76 pounds and deadlift of 257.5/567.69 and total of 422.5/931.44. He bumped the bench push/pull mark to 167.5/369.27 on a fourth lift. Fourth lifts are not considered in the regular meet totals, but are granted for record purposes only.
Other IronDawgs competing in the push/pull class included Oakwood’s R. Garry Glenn, the dean of the 'Dawgs at this meet. At a bodyweight of just over 205 pounds, Glenn competed in the Masters Men’s 60-64, 100kg (220.46 pounds) class and finished with a bench of 145/319.67 and a deadlift of 182.5/402.34 for a total of 327.5 kilos/722.01 pounds. The deadlift broke the 61-year-old Glenn’s own national record in the class as he took the state championship. Floridian Uwe Thorman, who also lifts with the 'Dawgs, competed and won the Masters Men's 55-59, 110kg push/pull class, totaling 320/705.47.
Competing in the bench-only classification, Lawrenceville’s Dana Tripp set state and American records with her bench press of 50.5/111.33 on a fourth attempt as she won the Masters Women’s 40-44 56kg (123.46 pounds) division. Husband Russ Tripp battled through a pectoral muscle injury to press 125/275.56 in winning the Masters Men's 45-49, 75kg (165.35 pounds) division.
IronDawg members Joey Murphy of Mt. Airy and Duane Manning of Oakwood finished one-two in the Masters Men's, 45-49, 100 kg, bench-only class. Murphy set the state record at 170/374.78, while Manning completed a meet personal record of 152.5/336.2. Steve Shepherd of Winder pressed 192.5/424.39 to take the State Bench Championship in the Masters Men's 50-54, 125 kg class.
The only Georgia IronDawg to compete equipped (with the special benchpress shirt) on the day was Gainesville’s George Bradley, who took the state title in the Masters Men's 55-59, 67.5 kg (148.81 pounds) class, pressing 102.5/225.97. All the other 'Dawgs lifted raw or unequipped Saturday.
Other Best Lifters included Rossville’s Justin Bethune and Marietta’s Katie Rodgers in the men’s and women’s fullpower (squat/bench/deadlift) classes. Bethune won the Raw Men’s Open class at 110kg (squat 360/793.66; bench 207.5/457.45, deadlift 699.96: total 885/1,951.07). Bethune said the squat, bench and total were all personal records. Rodgers won the Raw Women’s 75 kg class (115/253.53, 67.5/148.81, 150/330.69: 332.5/733.03). The women’s push/pull Best Lifter was Watkinsville’s Christine Stratton in the Raw 67.5 kg Open class (62.5/137.79, 122.5/270.06: 185/407.85).
The Best Lifter in the men’s benchpress classes was Dallas, Georgia’s Tony Carlino who lifted equipped in the Men’s Open 110 kg class and pushed an impressive 340/749.56. Carlino missed the weight twice before getting it on his third and final try. Svetlana Baker of Bogart was the women’s bench Best Lifter with her press of 52.5/115.74 in winning the Masters Women's Raw 52 kg (114.64 pounds) division. She bumped the American mark to 53/116.84 on a fourth lift. Her husband L.B. Baker took the deadlift-only title in the Masters Men's 75-79, 90 kg (198.41 pounds) class with his pull of 150/330.69. The youngest competitor was 12-year-old state champ Juaquin Greaves of Dallas who, at a bodyweight of 83.77 pounds, totaled 303.13 pounds.
Another Hall County resident who took a state championship was Oakwood’s Cody Cantrell who totaled 572.5/1,262.13 to win the Raw Open Men’s title in the 140kg (306.64 pounds) division.
The APC National Championships will be July 9-10 at the Jefferson Civic Center in Jefferson. For more information visit the APC website at www.americanpowerliftingcommittee-usa.com.
