MEET REPORT:

285 athletes from 51 universities converged in Orlando, FL for the 2010 United States Powerlifting (USAPL) Collegiate National Powerlifting Championships held during 16 – 18 April at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport Hotel.  Of the 285, twelve athletes competing were from Virginia Military Institute (VMI).  This was the biggest and best Collegiate Nationals to date for VMI Powerlifting.  The overall competing team members improved their three lift totals (squat, bench press, deadlift) by over six hundred pounds.  Thirty individual personal records were broken during the meet along with fourteen school records broken as well.   The most impressive record being the three year old deadlift record of 551lbs. that was held by 2008 USAPL Collegiate National Champion Super Heavyweight Brandon “OXX” Bryant.  Patrick Sweeney ‘11 broke that record with a 567lb. lift at 198lbs. bodyweight.   

Fourth Classman John Rivas ’13, 181lb. weight class, accomplished something during the meet that only happens every once and a while.  In only his first year competing on the national level, he did not miss a single attempt during the competition.  Powerlifters call that feat going “9 for 9”, because a lifter gets three attempts for each event (squat, bench, and deadlift).  It rare for even the most experienced lifters not to miss a competition lift throughout a meet’s entirety and Rivas was able to demonstrate technique mastery in just a short amount of time. 

Not to be outdone, First Classman and three time national qualifier Lee Hafkemeyer ‘10 turned in the best performance of his lifting career to capture the second place medal in the 148lb. weight class.  In doing so, Hafkemeyer hit personal best lifts in all three events 457lb. squat, 368lb. bench press, and 474lb. deadlift to add up to a personal best 1298lbs. total.  The aforementioned lifts broke all of Hafkemeyer’s previous school records.  This was Hafkemeyer’s last competition as he will be graduating in May and receiving a commission into the United States Army.    

Saving the best for last, Jessie Rende ‘11 became the first woman in VMI history to win a USAPL Collegiate National Championship in the 198lb. weight class.  In only her second meet ever, Rende recorded personal best lifts of 418lb. squat, 242lb. bench press, and 363lb. deadlift totaling 1023lbs. en route to the title. She improved an enormous 380lbs. from her previous total earlier recorded last December.  This is the second individual national championship for VMI Powerlifting since its revitalization three years ago in 2007.

Other notable lifters competing during the championship weekend were Robert Stockman ‘10, 165lb. weight class; Caleb Clubb ’13, 165lb. weight class; Caleb Gibson ’11, 181lb. weight class; Tomas Mecelis (Lithuania), 181lb. weight class; Owen Trotman ’10, 181lb. weight class; and Colin Antonucci ’12, 220lb. weight class.

Along with cadets Rende and Sweeney, cadets Michael Strobo ’12, John Rivas ’13, and Ben Ashooh ’11 were able to qualify for the 2011 USAPL Collegiate National Championships to be held in Scranton, PA.  Look for Rende to defend her national title. VMI Powerlifting’s next competition will be on 11 September 2010 when the Keydets will be competing at the 25^th Annual USAPL Virginia State Championships to be held in Zion Crossroads, VA.