USA POWERLIFTING OF MINNESOTA
Twin Cites Open 2008 by Brad Madvig
Welcome to yet another episode of the biggest local open event our state has and has ever had for many years. The Twin Cities Open ran by the Robert Keller of Minnesota Mr. Aaron Welborn. I know I sound like a broken record when I say that any given event is the best around, but I can say with no doubt that this event was something special. From the atmosphere of the lifters getting ready, to the quick work of the staff. To Dan Stock (owner of The Press Gym whom hosted this event) walking around making sure everyone got what they needed. For myself and my better half Amy we we arrived so early we beat Aaron to the venue. We got let in by Dan Stock and looking around the venue, it had chairs and tables set up mostly. Looks like much preparation was started the night before. |
Aaron arrived shortly after and we all got to work right away to bring the finishing touches for this event to start off. I wanted to do uploads of videos as the event went on to youtube.com and got that set up and uploaded a few to start out with. Seeing Aaron talk about him being a kind gentler man was quite funny to watch. From people getting trapped in the locker room during weigh ins, to gear check out the Twin Cities Open 2008 was ready to take full swing. |
I got asked to do spotting, but lucky for me Fawn Friday was there to take over camera duties so I can continue the 'almost live' project. She took great clips. The crowd looked almost asleep until Judy Drenth came out to get things going and things did pick up quickly. The soft spoken lady of iron reminds me much of Bob Sananti. She has great lifts in the squat and bench, but the deadlift is where she sets herself apart. Her deadlift put her in the lead for the win for the female unequipped. Another young lady whom I have enjoyed watching her get stronger over the years came over from Wisconsin to tear things up. Erin Walterman displayed a power I have not seen since seeing Jenn Maile pull her open world record deadlift as a teenager in 2002. Erin whom ripped her squats from the word go created a lead that her two opponents could not overtake. She ended off with a 185 kilo pull and a 465 kilo total. On a funny note with Erin I asked her what she thought of Farve leaving the Packers. She said with no hesitation 'bye.. won't miss you'. |
Raw had two deep divisions with plenty of action going on. Coming back from his record setting performance at RAW Nationals in St Louis Sid Reid went to reset many of his American Records at this event. When he attended the RAW Nationals he set all the 55-59 National and American Records. Turning 60 Sid did this once again for the 60-64 age group. Sid, much like his son Tony both setting the bar very high for Raw lifting for USA Powerlifting and the Twin Cities Open showed that once again. On the other side of RAW contest we had Jon Krogman who surprised me with his coming to this event and doing it RAW put himself into a position of being one of the best Raw lifters in the country the first time out. I knew he had some power ready to go after seeing him at the Perham event pulling 755 on his 3rd. But that was a 2 lift meet and I knew for sure that he was not going all out in the bench. |
Krogman managed to put together a 700 pound squat and once again doing 755 pull to beat Karl Gillinghams open deadlift record that has stood for over 10 years. I remember when I was Krogman age pulling a massive 550 at the same body weight. On a unofficial note I found out that Jon has managed to become the 3rd highest wilks in the country. He puts himself behind Mike Neal and Beau Moore. An incredible accomplishment today by Krogman. Jon Dorsher after his bumpy return to Powerlifting at Raw Nationals to try to overcome issues he had there with better numbers at this event. Unfortunately lighting did strike twice and he was met with trouble in the squats. Almost a carbon copy of the issues in St Louis his knee came forward during his decent in the squat. Scary situation that would have rattled anyone. I thought he was going to have pretty much the same meet as he did at Nationals. However he did fair better in the deadlift this time around with a 260 kilo pull bettering his attempts at Raw Nationals. |
After Krogmans major record setting deadlift followed more record smashing by the Jackels lifters. Craig Peterson took the Teen Male geared division without much issue. This was topped off by the breaking of a 21 year old teen deadlift record held by Mike Siegler of 552 pounds. Jordan Krogman (Didn't realize two freaks could come from the same family) also had a great first day out with a 240 kilo attempt. Multi World Champion coach Brad Gillingham looked on to all his lifters like a proud father. |
Jason Eggers won the 198 weight class with a 640 kilo total. The thing is with Jason that his total might not rock the world as one of the all time great strength feats of all time. However what I am enjoying about Jasons lifting is his progress. 5 pounds here, 10 pounds there each meet and he keeps coming back and gets better. And today he came back and took to win the 90 kilo weight class. It was a close call from what I observed to make this win. Jason go only his opening squat giving Dean Johnson an opening to pull ahead. Jason pulled it together in the deadlift getting a 255 kilo pull for a win by 2.5 kilos. What a great match up! |
Thank you again to Dan Stock for hosting this event again at The Press Gym. Thank you to Aaron Welborn for directing this event. Looking forward to TCO 2009, but first.. lets bring on the Hudson Natural Open. |