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MN USAPL NEWS
Masters 2003
This years Master’s Nationals consisted of over 190 lifters who exhibited very high quality lifting. The days were long and filled with many awesome lifts and fantastic competition. Minnesota and Wisconsin were both well represented. I had the opportunity and pleasure of working with some of those lifters and what follows is a synopsis of the meet from a MN/WI perspective. For anyone looking for complete results, they are available at this link. The first day of lifting was Friday 2 May in which the 114 – 165 pound weight classes took the platform. Lifting started at 2:00 pm and ended around 10:00 pm
148s:
This meet was to be Ron Hoff’s return to the national lifting platform and was eagerly awaited by those who have seen him lift over the years. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. The last week of training Ron re-injured his left shoulder benching and tore his bicep while deadlifting. Although he still considered competing, to the point of bringing all his equipment to the meet, better judgment took over and he took on a valuable role as coach.
165s:
In the 165 pound class was Bob Sainati who competed in the 55-59 age category. Bob placed 3rd ending the day with a 155 kg /341.7lbs squat, 90 kg /198.4lbs bench and a 217.5 kg /479.5lbs deadlift. Also in this class was Pat Beaumaster, last years 181 pound National and IPF Masters Worlds winner. Pat proved to be world class yet again by setting a new world record on his third attempt squat (281kg /619.5lbs), going 8 for 9, and winning both the 40 – 44 age group and the IPF M1 (40-49) for this weight class. The IPF M1 win earned him a spot on the US Masters World Team bound for Canada in October. His total of 705 kg /1554.24lbs put him 10kg /22lbs above the next competitor.
The second day of lifting the 181 – 220 pound weight classes took the platform. With the most competitors lifting in these three classes it was anticipated that things would get done late. Add to this the fact that the last class was not to start until 6:00 pm; everyone knew we were in for a LONG day. Lifting started at about 9:00 am and the last deadlift was pulled at about 11:00 pm. This day also marked the first time I have seen a lifter/coach file a protest with the jury on a depth call, win the protest and the lifter the right to a fourth attempt, thereby keeping the lifter in the meet.
181s:
Greg Zangl (Rock), coming off his IPF Master World Bench win 2 weeks previous, competed at this weight. He went 6 for 9 on the day, ending with a 195kg /429.8lbs squat, 205kg /451.9lbs bench, and a 255kg /562.2lbs deadlift. His total gave him a 4th place finish in the 40 – 44 age group.
Michael Laabs competed here, going 7 for 9 on the day, ending with a 205kg /451.9lbs squat,125kg /275.5lbs bench, and 232.5kg /512.6lbs deadlift. His numbers were good enough to place him 7th in the 40 – 44 age group, the largest age/weight group of the meet.
220s:
MN/WI was extremely well represented here, with 4 lifters in 4 classes.
In the 40 – 44 age category was Todd Dierks, who finished the day with a 235kg /518lbs squat, 145kg /319.7lbs bench, and a 249kg /529.1lbs deadlift. He had a good day hitting a PR squat, PR deadlift (even though he had some problems on his 1st attempt) and a PR total. His numbers were good enough to place him 7th in the 40 – 44 age group for this weight class.
The 45 – 49 age category was won by the veteran Shawn Cain competing in a different weight class than in recent years past. This meet marked Shawn’s return to the platform after surgery on his left arm for a torn bicep at last years Masters Worlds. He hit a 292.5kg /644.8lbs squat experiencing balance problems on each attempt, a 145kg /413.4lbs bench, and a 290kg /639.3lbs. On his last deadlift, that which his doctor and he feared might happen, did. About half way through the pull he felt his right bicep tear, but ever the competitor he continued to pull to lockout, got his three white lights and left the platform. As he walked by us, he said “I blew the other one.” This news definitely deflated all of us, leaving us speechless for a time…except for Shawn, of course, who commented “Well, rehab the second time should be easier than the first.” There exists a fairly “nice” picture taken by Kathy showing the bicep rolled up.
In the 50 – 54 there was Gary Edwards. He went 6 for 9, with a 225kg /496lbs squat, 172.5kg /380.3lbs bench and a 240.kg /529.1 deadlift. His numbers secured a 2nd place for him.
Bob Morton was our last lifter in this weight class competing in the 55 – 59 age group. He was lifting without his long time partner Ryan Stills. Due to a change in the original lifting schedule Ryan was forced to leave for the airport before Bob’s class made it to the platform. Bob made it through the meet although I don’t believe that he was happy with his performance. He went 4 for 9 with a 175kg /385.8lbs squat, 117.5 kg /259lbs bench, and a 185kg /407.9lbs deadlift. He placed 2nd in the class. As he usually does Bob was saying “I’m retiring, this is my last meet.” Hopefully this isn’t true but he will be losing his training partner for Ryan and Nicole are moving to Oregon this July. We wish them the best of luck but the area will be losing two great people and they will be missed
The final day of lifting was made up of the 242 - SHW.
242s:
Rick Kobeck was to have lifted in this class but he too got hurt, most seriously during his last week of training and was forced to sit this meet out. He provided much needed help to all those who competed.
This meet was Keith Belisle’s first appearance at a national meet. He did well going 7 for 9 increasing his deadlift by 3 lbs from the WI state meet which was good enough to earn him his much beloved chocolate caramel bars. He squatted 257.5kg /567.8lbs, benched 195kg /429.9lbs and pulled a 235kg /518.1lbs deadlift. He placed 5th.in the 40-44 class.
Mitch Edelstein made the decision on Saturday to compete in this weight group. He did this in part because Team Wissota was heavily represented in the 220s and because this weight class was competing at time which more closely matched the time he usually trains. The decision proved to have a positive outcome. Mitch placed 3rd, although only going 4 for 9 and as he put it “being one light away from bombing.” Mitch gave all of us a scare in deadlifts not getting a lift passed until his third attempt. It was never a strength issue, for he had strength to spare, but he was consistently being called for no lockout, specifically at the shoulder. As he usually does, however, he came through and made the third lift good. He ended the day with a 257.5kg /567.8lbs squat, 185kg /407.9lbs bench, and 280kg 617.3lbs deadlift.
275s:
The 50-54 age group was dominated by Wisconsin’s James Miller and ultimately he would go on to win the 50-59 (IPF M2) age bracket securing him a spot on the Master’s world team. On each squat attempt he was the last lifter, going 3 for 3 ending with 272.5kg /600.8lbs which was, as is usual for Jim, slow at the top but strong throughout. He missed only his first attempt bench on a pause call but came back and got the remaining two, finishing with 172.5kg /380.3lbs. Deadlifts provided a bit of drama for at subtotal Jim was down by 5kg and on paper he and his closest competitor were evenly matched. Jim, however, proved to be the stronger pulling 255kg /562.3lbs and winning the M1 class by 5kg.
SHWs
This was Steve Johnson’s second appearance at Masters Nationals and he put together a really fine performance. He went 8 for 9 missing only his last deadlift. He seemed confident for each lift on the platform even after missing his last squat warm-up (which he took over before hitting the platform and got easily). He ended up with a 240kg/529.1lbs squat, a new Minnesota state record bench of 210kg/462.9lbs and a 242.5kg/534.6lbs deadlift. His PR total of 1526.7lbs earned him a 3rd place finish in the 40-44 age group.