Nazareth Barbell Powertraining's 2003 Halloween Bench/Dead Bash

Saturday, November 1, 2003, Tatamy, Pennsylvania.

Putting together a power meet of any kind requires patience and mounds of tenacity. Getting sponsors, getting publicity, getting top notch competitors takes a little bit more effort. Then there are the logistics: the location, the set-up, the flow, the scoring, to get together. In addition to that is the artwork for shirts, shirt orders, videos, trophies, bars, concessions, the list goes on.

Sometimes we ask ourselves why? Sometimes we stop midway through and call up the powers that be to get us through to the next stage. When it's all rolling the day of the meet it just looks like fun and feels exhilarating! We take a look around and we recognize that these are the best of times.

The camaraderie in this sport, at this level, is unmatched. That's why we go through the pains we do to put these meets on. It's the people; it's the vibe you will find nowhere else. Our powerlifting family has grown to include many new faces, new power and new energy in the past year. These meets have given us the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life, with one general mindset; sharing in a moment of greatness whether it be their own or that of another athlete.

At the 2003 Halloween Bench/Dead Bash, there were many moments of greatness to be shared. Three newbie's to the sport from our gym arrived on the scene for this year's meet. Sue Lewis, who just one year ago was benching 115 raw competed in the women's open and achieved her goal of a 225 pound bench. This was a huge accomplishment for Sue and there are only good things ahead for her in this sport. An amazing pair of brothers, Colin and John Werner, hailing from Tatamy, handled themselves like they were old pros. Proud parents, Jody and Cindy, as well as other family members, watched and cheered as the two lads took the platform. Colin competed in the amateur teen 165 pound weight class hitting an amazing 210 pound raw bench at a bodyweight of 157 pounds! Not to be outdone, big brother John at age 15 competed in the amateur teen 275's. John received the standing "O" from a crowd of more than 200 nationally ranked powerlifters and spectators when he put up 460 pounds to smash the standing record by over 120 pounds! That was on his second attempt, for his third John went after the big 500 pound bench! Although he moved the weight quickly, it went a bit too fast and John lost his groove. After wrestling season, there will be more opportunities to hit it. This makes John one of the strongest teenaged benchpressers in the United States! Other members of the Nazbar family, Ryan DeFalco and John Marino, also competed.

There were over 20 competitors who were new to the IPA. Kevin Myirski, a local boy turned Marine, left his station at Camp David to come up with a 565 pound deadlift in the Junior 181's. His intensity and drive got the crowd in the gym roaring! Mark Bossowski and fiancée Heather Hulseberg along with Curtis Schultz and Anita Ramsey broke out of bodybuilding for their first powerlifting meet! They showed us a whole different level of focus. We look forward to great things in the future from all of them.

Sandi "Candyazz" McCaslin, supported by her husband Zane came up with the biggest women's bench of the day hitting 255, breaking the record formerly held in the women's submasters by Deb Ames. Father and son team, Tom Deebel Sr. and Tom Deebel Jr. had a great day, the younger making his third deadlift attempt of 130 at the tender age of 8. Butch Smith, after dropping 30 pounds of bodyweight, came through to to take Men's best lifter with a 455 pound bench and a 700 pound deadlift! Bill Crawford was on hand to slap up 700, dedicating the biggest bench of the day to Travis Godden, son of Buster and Janis Godden who was tragically killed just months earlier. Buster, who trained with his son, benched 500 at this meet in the Mens Amateur Masters division. It has been a tough few months for the Goddens, we all miss Travis.

At the after party, Elvis made an appearance as well as the Trowdroppers. It was a day to remember! Thanks to Mom and dad for their tireless help at the grill, to all of our gym family for their time and support! They are what make these things work, thanks Tina, Kathy, Jen, Hal, Tarzan, Lew, Kyle, Gail, Joel, Joe. Huge thanks to Dave and Traci Tate of www.elitefts.com for sponsoring the meet and to Sally Stone 215/862-1883 for doing a great job with the shirts, sweats, hats and work shirts! Our next meet is Saturday, February 7, 2004~~~The Beast of the Bench!!!