VMI Powerlifting was revitalized in the fall of 2007 with the arrival of current coach Monte Sparkman.  The team competed in its first competition at the 2007 USAPL VA State Championships in Stanardsville, VA and took first place as a team.  The team’s second competition of the year was at the 2008 USAPL VA Open again in Stanardsville.  At the conclusion of the two previous meets, VMI Powerlifting had qualified 4 lifers for the 2008 USAPL Collegiate Nationals which were held in Denver, CO.  It was at the national meet where VMI Powerlifting saw its first national champion and top five placing for two out of the four lifters. 

2009 saw a significant rise in interest in the Powerlifting club.  The club returned to the 2008 USAPL Virginia State meet at which the team took home 17 first place trophies.  After the 2009 USAPL VA Open championships, VMI Powerlifting had qualified 5 lifters for the 2009 USAPL Collegiate National meet which was held in Baton Rouge, LA. 

2010 was a banner year for the club.  The club saw record numbers in participation and success on the platform.  VMI Powerlifting hosted the first ever USAPL VMI Powerlifting Classic on Post.  That meet saw 39 lifters from all across the state compete in historic Cocke Hall.  At the conclusion of the meet, VMI Powerlifting had qualified an impressive six lifters for the 2010 USAPL Collegiate Nationals to be held later that year in Orlando, FL to include VMI’s first ever woman competitor.   It was at the 2010 VA Open where four more lifters earned the qualifying total to compete at the national meet.  After one more qualifying meet in Charlotte, NC, VMI Powerlifting would be taking 11 lifters to USAPL Collegiate Nationals in Orlando, FL.

VMI Powerlifting’s showing at the national meet was its best yet. The team had almost tripled its participation of 4 lifters in 2008 to 11 in 2010 at the national meet.  Not only did the team garner a national ranking of number twelve, but the club also had its first ever individual woman national champion and another individual second place finish on the men’s side.