USAPL

State Record Squat 430

Bench Press 270

Dead Lift 430 20lb PR

Total 1130- State Record Teen 1 165


This weekend James had a USAPL meet south of Grand Rapids. No real expectations, just wanted to get another meet in. Turns out he set 2 state records and really should have had a third. The meet started the usual way, nervousness and excitement, but that was me, James was his normal cool and collected self. Squat warm ups went well and I knew that we had opened him to low at 385 but we decided to stay with it and nail the first lift of the meet. He did and we went to 415 and again was easy, knowing the state record was 429, we went 430 and had the first record of the day. We were both high as a kite and couldn't wait for the bench. The state record here was 275.5 and this is no problem at all for James. I opened him at 270 and he was red lighted for lifting his head, and then again on his second attempt for lifting his head and moving his foot. Now here is my problem, I can understand a long hold for the press command, but if you do it for one lifter, you need to do it for all lifters. Anyway he destroyed 270 on his third attempt and was still in the meet, although we thought that the total record was out of reach considering his DL PR is only 410 and it has been a while since he has hit that. He opened at 350 and killed it, so then went to 400, my mind was already doing the math. He nailed that one too and so he would need 430 for the record. I know he could have done at least 450-70 and the DL record was 490 so maybe he could have gotten that, but we opted for the guarantee and he smoked 430.

I was a great meet for James and I couldn't be prouder, he qualified for the national meet and set 2 state records. We will be traveling to Flint in a few weeks where he should get at least one more record if not break is own squat and total record and if it is a good day, may capture the dead as well.