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MN USAPL NEWS
Twin Ports Raw Open 2010
St Scholastica Duluth MN
Strength, Power and torn hands are the part of every Powerlifting event in the country. In Duluth we saw the Twin Ports Raw Open bringing the best of the Masters, the best of teens, the best of the Open. The best of Raw Powerlifting of the north. The Meet Director and State Chair of Minnesota Joe Warpeha brought this collection of strength to St Scholastica College to their athletic center. Cool and spacious, 10 platform warm up room and endless plates. Now I have always been a fan of your gritty gyms, as long as they had good music and good weights to unleash on that is all I needed. But when you walked into the school and the venue itself you feel as if your in really a professional sports arena.
The trend of lifters over the past few years is they want more and more to compete agaist their fellow lifter. No more meets just as a trophy sale, but true competition agaist each other. For this contest each group of lifters compete based on wilks formula , this formula is the world wide recognized standard to compare lifters from multiple weight classes in Powerlifting which in turn created the best in competition.
For the Twin Ports Raw Open this was used for all the groups of lifters. For our long history we have had a proud group of Master lifters who continue to defy age and out do their PR's every contest.
Sid Reid took the Masters group with a 472.5 kilo total. Sid as I found out early in the meet was setting American Records in past events, but didn't want to report it. In his modest ways he felt that he didn't want to bother anyone. Sid who just enjoys competing decided to bow to friendly encouragement and report his American records set such records in every lift, and total.
Taking 2nd in the Men's Masters is Joel Ford well known for his raging hyper presence on the platform. He took a 177.5 kilo squat and 552 wilks. He did this all with a 9 for 9 in his attempts. One of the newer Masters this year taking 3rd was Doug Miller. Doug on his 2nd event as a master making runs at American records. When I write this report I am not sure which American records he went for, but given he 7-9 in his attempts it really could be in any lift. Doug takes 3rd in the Masters.
The Teen and Jr class brought out great performances and promise for the future of Powerlifting. Aaron Schwenzfeier had a rocky start with some calls on his opening squat of 162.5 Kilos, but pulled away quick with a 540: kilo total and a 391 wilks score putting him 30+ points ahead on the pack. Alex Ebert followed him up with a 9 for 9 day and. 395 kilo total. Chris Ortendahl performance was impressive not just for his numbers, but the fact that he finished. Saying that may sound like I am insulting him, but I remember him at his first meet back at The Gym in Plymouth. A push/pull event being his first ever he bombed out. Now at any age, bombing out of a meet is a horrible feeling. Being a kid entering your first meet and bombing often drives them away, and for a while it did. Chris left around 2002.
Chris came back and started training with fellow Twin Ports Open Competitor Brain Lenord to try and conquer Powerlifting. He came back to compete at the MN State Open in February at The Gym 365. Unfortunately he bombed at that contest as well, but didn't hesitate after the meet today he would return to the Twin Ports Raw Open to not only get through the meet, but to place 3rd out of a field of 6. Way to prevail Chris and a great comeback.
A real rare treat was seeing a young man named Spencer Chanthavong competes at this event. At 14 years old and who a train at Impact Sports Training in Duluth was a local favorite and the crowd showed its appreciation every time he approached the platform. Spencer went 8-9 for the day and took down some American records in the process and pulling in a 355 kilo total. Very impressive and I hope to see him on the platform again very soon.
Steve and Annette Powell traveled from Winnipeg, Manitoba once again to show us why they are their countries best. Annette took a commanding lead early for the women with a 346 wilks total and Rebecca Holland chasing behind with a 314 wilks. Rounding out the women where AJ Matthews and Vicki Lunde as I understand this was her very first event. One guy whom I train with not often enough was in a lift by lift battle for first agaist Ben Roehl. Brian Leonard who has recovered considerable knee surguries removing what where nothing short of golf ball size lumps from his knees struck first with a 40 kilo lead in the squats. Ben responded and closing the gap fast on Brian shunk that gap by 30 kilos after the bench. Ben seeing an opening brought out a big 277.5 deadlift which was work, but he owned the lift overtaking Brian by 17.5 kilos and winning the lightweight full Powerlifting by 17.5 kilos. It was a great battle by two great lifters.
I had the honor of competing with a great field of heavyweights who I cannot express enough respect for. Steven Powell who has become a familer face in Minnesota showed why he is National Champion in Canada pushed his numbers as far as he could take them. I could see that by each of his attempts and taking brave 3rd attempts that you could see were just beyond his PR limits. In his squat he got a great 240 kilo squat and took a very strong attack on a 250 kilo attempt. The attempt didn't go, but it will next event I am sure of that. Steve took 3rd place with a 707.5 kilo total. Steve held out against 4th place Robert Trettin who also totaled 707.5 kilo total. Robert battled a very sore back throughout the contest, even getting to the point hitting me up for some icy hot. Robert who lifted hurt not only had a fierce dedicated drive to lift, he kept a joking fun demeanor setting jr records throughout.
The trip to Duluth and competing with great friends was a fantastic experience. Duluth bringing not only great friends, great lifting, but a 7 pound burger which I can not believe I finished. The trip was rounded out with some festivities celebrating Sara Greely birthday which she demonstrated some interesting uses for a motorcycle helmet.
Thank you gain to Joe Warphea and all the cast and crew that helped make this event go off so well. Looking forward to next year!
MAD