GAINESVILLE — In baseball and boxing, it’s usually about the heavy hitters. In powerlifting, it’s about the heavy lifters, and the heavyweights took center stage Sunday on day two of the American Powerlifting Committee (APC) National championships at the Iron Beast Gym.
A 700-plus pound benchpress and a full power total of over a ton were highlights of an outstanding day of lifting for the classes above 220 pounds: the 110 kilogram/242.5 pound; 125/275.6, and 140/308.6 divisions.
Gainesville residents Robert Morrison and Tim “T” Moon were the heaviest of the heavies. Morrison (not officially an IronDawg) set National records in the raw sub-master’s (35-40 age group) fullpower squat (360/793.7) and total (941/2,074.5) to go along with a National/World/Sub-master/Open world record deadlift (386/851) in the 125 kilo class. His bench on the day was 195 kilos/429.9, more than respectable; but the king of the bench at this meet like so many others was Moon. He was credited with 350/771.6 on his opener in the equipped Master’s Men’s 50-54, 140 k class.
He attempted to go to around 826 pounds to break his all-time, all-association World Record of 821, but could not make it happen on his next two lifts. Nevertheless, the 53-year-old Moon, who weighed in at 283.3 pounds picked up yet another World Record and National Title and Best Lifter in the bench-only category. He won the World United Amateur Powerlifting-USA Nationals just a couple of weeks ago in Illinois. Morrison got the Best Lifter trophy in the Men’s fullpower classes. The Women’s fullpower BL went to Flowery Branch’s Valerie Smith who totaled 368/811.3 in her raw 67.5 kg/148.8 pounds. division on Saturday. She also got the Women’s deadlift-only trophy with a pull of 162.5/358.2. The Men’s deadlift BL went to 16-year old Seth Gaston of Winder in his raw 90/198.4 class with his lift of 217.5/479.5.
Other Best Lifter awards went to April Mathis of Spring Hills, Fla., who had an equipped World Record of 245/540.1 in the Women’s Open 90-plus kg class to take the female bench-only trophy; and to Paige Rideout of Epworth and Jason Banks of Morganton in Fannin County, who won the Women’s and Men’s push/pull Best Lifter awards. Rideout totaled 150/330.7 in her raw combination bench/deadlift category while Banks had raw State/National records in push/pull bench (215/474); deadlift (290/639.3) and total (505/1,113.3).
Other Northeast Georgia lifters with good meets included former Archer football player and wrestler Zachary Patton who now lives in Buford. The 19-year-old Patton won his raw 110-kg teen class with a 705/1,554.2 total, which included a world record deadlift of 212.5/468.5; as well as a 240/529.1 squat and a 192.5/424.4 bench-press. Tim Evans of Cumming had the heaviest raw bench of the meet. Evans competed in the 140 kg, open bench-only category and was credited with a push of 252.5/556.7.
It was also a good day for the Flowers brothers of Morganton, who competed raw in their various divisions. Jeremy won the bench-only 110 kg Open division with a push of 160/352.7; and was second in his push/pull class with 365/804.7. Terry was 2nd in the fullpower Open 110 class with a total of 585/1,289.7; and 17-year-old Bradley won his 125 kg fullpower class with a world record on the bench (147.5/325.2). His 205/451.9 squat and 235/518.1 deadlift gave him a total of 587.5/1,295.2 in fullpower. The efforts by Banks, the Flowers brothers and their teammates gave the Banks Barbell teams the National Team Championships in push/pull and fullpower.
The Georgia IronDawgs, led by Moon, defended their bench-only team title. Saturday, the ‘Dawgs got National Championships form Russ and Dana Tripp of Monroe, George Bradley of Gainesville, Joey Murphy of Mt. Airy, R. Garry Glenn of Oakwood and Kendall Dean of Orlando, Fla.
“When we all hit our numbers, or even close to them, we are hard to beat in bench-only,” said Glenn the IronDawg team captain. “T was outstanding as usual. In fullpower, Robert Morrison had an amazing deadlift."
"We appreciate Marcell Allen and Stephanie Williams of the Iron Beast and (APC President) Andy Williamson for hosting the meet. It’s a lot of trouble, I know, but we all love the sport. My deep thanks and appreciation as well to all the spotters, loaders and judges who kept all of our athletes from any major injuries.”
The APC Nationals qualified athletes to represent the USA in the GPA/IPO World Meet in Argentina in November. The Iron Beast is scheduled to host the Georgia Games Powerlifting July 22 and the Wounded Warrior Meet Nov. 4. More information can be found on the APC website.
