​Best Lifter spotlight from the WPUSA Virginia State Championship on July 10, 2021.
Top Men's Open Raw Wilks 2020...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Derek Dickinson, 32, first meet was in 2011

Best lifts in competition?
674.61 squat 465.17 bench 683.4 dead 1801.17 total

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
Football and baseball. My dad also always had me doing all kinds of physical work

Why Powerlifting? 
It's something I like doing and felt I was ok at

Tell me something about your gym/team.
I have most equipment I need at home but I'll do a commercial gym a couple days a week for accessories 

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
Alone mainly but a couple days a week with one of my buddys 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
I bombed out of my first meet ever. But they let me cross over to Ironman push/pull

Biggest inspiration in the sport?
I'm not really inspired by other people 

What's your favorite lift?
Squat

Least favorite lift?
Bench

Biggest challenge in your training?
Training after working outside in the weather all day every day

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
I do like to have either a stereo or earbuds playing about as loud as they'll go 

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
I do my own.

Social media.  Positives and negatives
Positives are you may find some useful information for your training

Negatives are a lot of people put on a fake front for social media and are dishonest about all the information they give out 

Diet you follow? Supplements?
I try to get in about 350carb,240protein,100g of fat daily
Creatine, caffeine and citrulline malate 2:1 are always good

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career?
I came back hit a deadlift PR at a meet in the same building where 364 days before that I had a distal bicep tendon rupture on a 3rd attempt deadlift.

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
Just to be happy

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
My buddies Roscoe and Bob McClure 

Best Lifter spotlight from the WPUSA Independence Open on July 3, 2021.
Top OVERALL Wilks 2020...

​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Trey Williams, 28.  Since 2016 (officially), got into it while deployed overseas.

Best lifts in competition?
Squat 625lbs 
Bench 425lbs
Deadlift 661lbs

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
Football, basketball, track, weight lifting, Army and CrossFit. I have basically powerlifting since high school football. My high school had a powerlifting coach as the strength coach and we would max out our lifts to power lifting standards so it has always been a standard for me. 

Why Powerlifting?
It is a fun way to challenge yourself while motivating other to get better. As long as you are having fun and not getting hurt that is all that matters. 

Tell me something about your gym/team.
I go to a lot of gyms just from traveling. My main gym is one like no other. It is one of the best gyms I’ve ever been in because of all of the options that you can choose from. 

Training alone or training partner/coach, team?
I typically train alone so I can keep my heart rate up and test my limits. Other times I lift with others when it is usually a SBD (squat, bench, deadlift) day to have that extra push from each other. 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
That I do not have a set workout plan. I literally go in the gym and see what is available and make the reps up as I go. I do random workouts based off of body parts.

Biggest inspiration in the sport?
Knowing that there are other people trying to beat you. I love a challenge and will never back down. It brings out the best in people while striving to be the best. 

What's your favorite lift?
Back Squat

Least favorite lift?
Deadlift 

Biggest challenge in your training?
Maintaining a proper calorie/water intake. Dieting is something that I have learned over time will either make or break you. 

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
I prefer to lift in an empty gym with little to no one around but I can do the crowded gyms if need be. 

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
I make up my own plan. 

Social media.  Positives and negatives
Positive - It helps you meet like minded individuals that will help and motivate you throughout what ever journey you are following. 

Negative - Some often sit back at try to criticize others for things that they have worked for.  

Diet you follow? Supplements?
No set diet. 
Fish oil and men’s multivitamin 

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
Hitting a natural 1,700lb total. 

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
To get more flexible and into yoga more. 

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
I have to many people who support me to call one out individually. I would like to say that to everyone who supported me over the years, I truly am thankful and will continue to give it my all.