Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Raleigh Ruckus on April 17, 2021.
Men’s Open Raw Best Lifter...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
James Fowler, 24 years old, lifting since I was 19, this was my first competition

Best lifts in competition?
My best lift was my 645lb deadlift 

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
I played baseball, basketball and football in high school. I was in the Marine Corps and that's where I began lifting passionately. 

Why Powerlifting?
It's a great stress relief and you feel great about yourself when you hit PRs and see what your body is capable of. 

Tell me something about your gym/team.
My team was very supportive of me throughout the process because it was my first meet I was very anxious and had a lot of questions and really had no idea where to start

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
Due to schedule conflicts I usually am forced to train alone, but always went to Jeremy Scott and Johann Gylfason with questions. 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
Even after 5 years of my life revolving around lifting, I'm still learning a lot and trying to perfect form. 
 
Biggest inspiration in the sport?
Marcus Crowder

What's your favorite lift?
That changes fairly often, but usually bench press. 

Least favorite lift?
Up until the meet it was deadlift, but everything came together on meet day with it so I'm looking forward to training it. 

Biggest challenge in your training?
Trusting the process and following the programming

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
A dark, grungy gym with loud music playing, weights slamming, people grunting and training hard. 

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
Johann writes my programming 

Social media.  Positives and negatives
I think social media has its positives because you can learn a lot from many other lifters. I think the negatives are unrealistic expectations. People show you what they want you to see on social media. 

Diet you follow? Supplements?
I generally eat red meat and try to keep my meals clean. There isn't a specific diet I follow and I don't track my macros. 

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
Winning this meet was my biggest accomplishment and I look forward to competing in the future. 

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
To continue to be successful in my career. 

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
Johann Gylfason @vikingstrengthcoach and Jeremy Scott @jscott919

​Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Raleigh Ruckus on April 17, 2021.
Men’s Open Wraps Best Lifter...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Trevor Vasser , 29, been competing for 11 years

Best lifts in competition?
881 squat, 501 bench, 815 deadlift

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
I played football in high school and college

Why Powerlifting?
I gave me an outlet to showcase my strength, and i immediately fell in love after doing a push pull event

Tell me something about your gym/team.
I am a co-owner of Legendary Strength Gym in Lynchburg, VA and am proud to be a part of something so amazing. 

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
I normally train with Henry Craig who also competes, if scheduling does not allow it i train alone or always will train with anyone.

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
I am a big softy
 
Biggest inspiration in the sport?
Dan Bell

What's your favorite lift?
Squat because its my biggest lift

Least favorite lift?
Bench press, sore subject

Biggest challenge in your training?
Co-owning the gym, having a full time job along with training and a wife makes things interesting but I thrive on it and make the best out of it. 

Ideal training atmosphere? 
Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy? Legendary Strength, but I am biased. I prefer high energy noise and getting everyone fired up. 

Training plan.
Do your own programming or have a coach? I am coached by Josh Bryant @jailhousestrong 

Social media.  Positives and negatives.
Great for motivation and looking up to great men and women, the hate/negatives that people push on others. I do not care for the hate. 

Diet you follow? Supplements?
Loosely follow the vertical diet, I take whey protein, fish oil, vitamin d, magnesium, creatine, aminos. 

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career?
Finally getting my first 2K total in 2019. 

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
To have a family with my wife whether it is our own or foster/adoption. To have the gym grow to the strength mecca on the east coast, and where big name lifters come to train from around the world. 

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
I would like to shout out my wife Brandi, my coach Josh Bryant, the Legendary Strength family, and my sponsors Gorilla Piss Ammonia and Brutality of Lifting.