Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Hickory Classic on June 19, 2021.
Top Men's Open Raw...

​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
 22 and been powerlifting for around 3 years
 
 
Best lifts in competition?
 Squat 595
Bench 414
Deadlift 551
 
 
Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
 Before I started powerlifting, I played football and wrestled for about 10 years.
 
 
Why Powerlifting?
 I was always working out with all of my sports throughout my teenage years and fell in love with lifting. After graduating a friend of mine introduced to Powerlifting and I have been doing it ever since. 
 
 
Tell me something about your gym/team.
 I actually train at two gyms, both located in Lynchburg, VA (Legendary Strength Gym and Kinetix Health Club). As a team, I have been volunteering and assisting with Liberty Powerlifting based out of Liberty University. 
 
 
Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
 Most days I train with my girlfriend, Amanda, who also coached me for this last meet and we will continue coaching one another for the next meet in October. 
 
 
Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
 I am honestly a big version of a child and enjoy video games like Dragon Ball Z and Pokémon. 
 
 
Biggest inspiration in the sport?
He's not affiliated much with Powerlifting, but Eddie Hall has been my inspiration for pushing myself in training for the last few years.
 
 
What's your favorite lift?
 It's a tie between the bench press and squat.
 
 
Least favorite lift?
 Deadlift for sure. 
 
 
Biggest challenge in your training?
 My biggest challenge in training is my mobility. I've torn multiple muscles, ligaments and tendons in my time training and it makes it difficult to be flexible and stay loose at all times.
 
 
Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
I can do a blend of both. I keep the music loud but when it's time for a big lift, always get dialed in. Just me and the bar at the end of the day.
 
 
 
Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
 I somewhat do my own coaching. My girlfriend and I bounce ideas off one another to give ourselves the best options for training.
 
 
Social media.  Positives and negatives
I mainly use Instagram for social media. The positives for me are always whenever I can motivate someone with my posts to go out and push themselves to reach their goals.
 
 
Diet you follow? Supplements?
Don't really have much of a diet unless I need to cut weight.
 
 
Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career?
 I suffered a complete tear of my pectoralis major muscle that required surgery back in December 2017 and in January 2020, after being told my bench wouldn't be normal, I hit 405.
 
 
What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
Definitely to finish school.
 
 
Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout
out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
Definitely the gyms, Kinetix and Legendary, my teammates from Liberty Powerlifting, the guys from Complete Nutrition in Lynchburg, my family and friends, and my girlfriend Amanda Smith.

Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Green Mountain Battle on May 22, 2021.
Top OVERALL Wilks 2020...

​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
My name is Amber. I am currently 27 year old and have been powerlifting for 2 years now.
​
Best lifts in competition?
My best squat is 136kg, my best bench is 76kg, and my best deadlift is 154kg in competition.

Athletic background? What you did before powerlifting?
I was an avid soccer player growing up from the age of 5 until I graduated college at 22. I am still heavily involved in collegiate soccer as an Assistant Coach for my Alma Mater. My favorite and most played position on the field was and still is goalkeeper.

Why Powerlifting?
I chose powerlifting because I recognized the consistency and dedication that is required to be a successful powerlifter. I chose powerlifting because it is a sport without instant gratification. You have to work your ass off for months at a time to prepare yourself for a meet. If you didn't prepare properly, the platform doesn't lie. The only person you have to hold accountable if you don't reach your goals, is yourself.

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
I prefer to train alone. I am one who enjoys really dialing into the task at hand. I believe putting intent into everything you do to prepare yourself for this sport and to me that means eliminating any distractions. However, there are some times where I prefer to train with my coworkers during our off times in the gym for some camaraderie. My most common training buddy is my wife, who is training for bodybuilding. 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
Most people don't know that I tend to visualize my lifts A LOT. Typically, I visualize a successful attempt just before I approach the bar for my set ups. This goes for every top set and most drop sets if they're included. I've found that the more I visualize my success beforehand, the more successful I tend to be.

Biggest inspiration in the sport?
Stefi Cohen is my biggest inspiration in this sport. 

What's your favorite lift?
My favorite lift is the squat. Something about having heavy weight on my back amps me up. Life or death. Squat or die.

Least favorite lift?
I struggle the most with deadlifts. I enjoy them, but they are by far the least favorite of the Big 3.

Biggest challenge in your training?
The biggest challenge in my training can sometimes be that I prefer training alone but I also prefer to train in a familiar place. It occasionally becomes hard to separate work from training because my place of work is also my most familiar and favorite place of training. 

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
I hire a coach: Jared Maynard @jared.unbreakablestrength
I work as a strength and conditioning coach and do a lot of programming for other people. I've found it very relieving to not have to stress to program for myself. It allows me to put full intent into every workout and lift. It also allows for someone else to give me some objective feedback and an outside opinion.

Social media. Positives and negatives
Instagram: @ambitions_fitness
I think social media is overrated when it comes to sharing proper information in this field. I think its a great tool to celebrate successes, to create community, and to bridge remote communication/marketing. I'm here to share my journey and inspire others to get involved in something they enjoy doing. It increases quality of life, and to me that is important.
Take what you find on social media with a grain of salt. Most proper influencers don't claim to have all the answers but they will share and forward who their greatest influencers on their education have been. From that you can make your choice whether or not that information is relevant to you.

Diet you follow? Supplements?
I don't follow a particular diet usually. I aim to just eat mostly whole foods. I love proats and breakfast foods. A lot of my protein comes from lean meats like turkey and chicken. I consume a lot of eggs and egg whites. The only supplement I take on a regular basis is Creatine. 

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
My biggest accomplishment in my powerlifting career is winning best lifter at the Vermont Green Mountain Battle!!

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
I have a non-powerlifting goal to one day hike the entirety of the Appalachian Trail. 

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)? 
My workplace, home gym, hype crew: @flight_performance
My Coach: @jared.unbreakablestrength
My wife/handler: @rmverrill13

Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Iron Valley Open on May 8, 2021.
Men’s Open Raw Best Lifter...

​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Joel Garcia. age 31 powerlifting for 5 years.

Best lifts in competition?
squat 580 bench 390 deadlift 630

Athletic background? What you did before powerlifting?
did juijitsu, judo before

Why Powerlifting?
going to the gym as a beginner but noticed i was able to get up close to a 400 deadlift fairly quickly with little to no guidance. from there just turned to curiosity as to how strong i could get

Tell me something about your gym/team.
i have a home gym for the past 5 years

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
train alone only because of parenthood. we used to workout together as a couple but now take turns working out and watching the young one.

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
pretty open so not much to share

Biggest inspiration in the sport?
my faith in myself

What's your favorite lift?
deadlift

Least favorite lift?
squat

Biggest challenge in your training?
getting distracted in the garage lol

Ideal training atmosphere? Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
lots of equipment and loud music

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

Social media. Positives and negatives
positives: fun sharing training log and viewing other progress.
negatives: negative people

Diet you follow? Supplements?
IIFYM

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
passing out on my deadlift attempt in front of a live audience lol

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
retire soon from traditional 9-5 type work and have my chunk of land with animals and what not.

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)? 
Diana , the mother of my child, since she's always there 

Best Lifter spotlight from the WPUSA Tennessee State Championship on May 8, 2021.
Men’s Open Raw Best Lifter...

​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
My name is Timothy Farris (The Batman) I am 23 years old currently and will be turning 24 the 25th of this month and I’ve been powerlifting for 3 and a half years. 

Best lifts in competition?
My best lifts in competition are 601lbs squat, 403lb bench and 650lb deadlift but not all done it one meet. 

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
Before powerlifting in high school I played football and broke several all American records and ran track and field I was able to compete at the state level 3 years in a row in track and field placing 6th on the podium for long jump my senior year. 

Why Powerlifting?
To be honest a couple of my friends encouraged me to pursue powerlifting. I didn’t know it existed and had no prior plans on competing until it came up. I’ve always been known for my strength and speed but this sport was primarily on strength and power so my training had to be changed up. It pushed me too another level on all aspects mentally, emotionally and physically. It created a sense of purpose, another chapter to complete and I want to continue to grow within the sport alongside my fellow athletes. 

Tell me something about your gym/team.
​My gym is down to earth everyone talks to everyone and knows everyone. We all get along and we all push each other to our best limits because we know that each one of us can go further. We got several other powerlifters that attend my gym and have broken several records of their own. I believe wholeheartedly I have the best group of people surrounding me and it’s only getting bigger. 

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
I’ve been training alone for the most part. I’ve worked out with training partners that I consider my brothers but currently I’m training alone. Everyone’s schedule changes in life which is no big deal we all know what we are about and know what we need to do, I’m learning as go from listening to those who have good genuine knowledge and passing it on as well to others. Currently no coach. 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
​I like to sing.
 
Biggest inspiration in the sport?
​I have a few Russell Orhii, Larry wheels, John Haack the list goes on but Russell Orhii being my biggest inspiration because I want to compete with and against him in drug tested meets as it wouldn’t be fair for me in untested meets, but I’m always up for the challenge no matter the opponent or size.

What's your favorite lift?
​Deadlift. 100% hands down. It is also my best lift. 

Least favorite lift?
For a time it was squats, but now I love them I have no least favorite lift. 

Biggest challenge in your training?
Training alone. That’s my biggest challenge so far it gets hard at times but I’m getting better with coming in and getting down even if I’m on my own I have people around me hyping me up and encouraging inside the gym and out that keeps me going.

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
Definitely noisy and high energy I feed on everyone’s energy so have you to come correct if you are around me. We don’t do that dull quiet talk we get loud where I’m from. Haha

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
​I do my own programming but I listen to others input to help me out accordingly. Thus far I’ve been having amazing results until I need an actual coach to push me past my limits. 

Social media.  Positives and negatives
Social media on a positive scale is good for advertising, broadcasting your content for purposeful meaning and getting across a good clean message. The negative side of things is constantly one upping others. Getting to caught up and creating drama, arguments and fights. Not recognizing your self worth and understanding that not everyone is on your journey and you are not on theirs. It doesn’t matter if you have 1 or a million followers you should be the same person through and through and not pretending and being fake. Lead by example be a role model we don’t realize who’s watching and looking up to us. 

Diet you follow? Supplements?
​I have no set diet but I try to eat clean when good food is available other then that I’m eating everything in sight. In the future lords willing I want to push on eating better for sure. I take vitamins and that about it. Magnesium, zinc, calcium, fish oils and probiotics.
Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 

What's one of your powerlifting goals?
Being number 1 in several federations whether that’s winning 1st or being number 1 completely overall is my biggest accomplishment in rankings, I may not have the highest total or biggest numbers but I’m coming up stronger and stronger and it’s an honor and I’m humbled I’ve never seen myself doing the things I’ve done in the sport of powerlifting but I’ve not done it alone I got my people with me supporting me and believing in me end I serve a mighty God who has given me strength throughput the process. It’s not been an easy journey but I wouldn’t trade it. 

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
I would like to become an actor so I can be Batman on the big screen haha. Dream big and never give up hope is my thing even if it seems all is lost. I’m happy to be apart of a big community of lifters and people across the world thank you for this opportunity. 

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
​Shout out to you Johnny Layne for making this possible and the entire USPC/WPUSA crew. To all my friends and family who may read this thank you. And to all other lifters who may read this thank you for pushing me, let’s keep going! All glory to God. 

Best Lifter spotlight from the WPUSA Tennessee State Championship on May 8, 2021.
Men’s Open Wraps Best Lifter...

​​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
My name is Jackson Powell, I’m 18 years old and I’ve been powerlifting for 3 years. 

Best lifts in competition?
My best lifts are a 417 KG/ 919.3lbs squat, 207 KG/ 546.36lbs bench,
318 KG/701.07lbs deadlift, and my best total is 942 KG/ 2072.4lbs. 

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
Before powerlifting I played football and wrestled for a few years. 

Why Powerlifting?
​I started powerlifting because I lost interest in football and started lifting for powerlifting only. 

Tell me something about your gym/team.
I am on The Walls of Jericho training team out of Dayton Tennessee and we’re not just a team we’re a family. 

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
​I train with my coach, Josh Rodda and other members of the team. 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
I’m a gentle bull and am referred to as Ferd like Ferdinand the bull by the team. 
 
Biggest inspiration in the sport?
I have many inspirations in the sport, there’s too many to name. 

What's your favorite lift?  Least favorite lift?
My favorite lift is squat and my least favorite is bench. 

Biggest challenge in your training?
My biggest challenge in training is not going full bore all the time. 

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
Ideal training atmosphere is all my team and the music cranked up loud.  When we all get together we do amazing things. 

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
Josh Rodda is my coach and does my programs. 

Social media.  Positives and negatives
​Social media is great because it allows big lifts to be spread but people should keep certain opinions to themselves when they don’t have a clue what they’re talking about.

Diet you follow? Supplements?
I don’t have a strict diet and I usually only have a Reign energy in meet days and before big training sessions but I’m about to start using Tennessee Pre and see how I like it.

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
My biggest accomplishment so far is totaling 2000 pounds and getting an invite to The Showdown Meet in September. 

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
​A non-powerlifting goal of mine is to be successful enough to have a gym for all my teammates to train at and to give back to the sport somehow.

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
I’d like to thank my Mama and Sister for always supporting. I also want to thank Josh Rodda and all of the team who come out and support along with train. They make me better and help me and for that I’m grateful. I’d also like to thank Conquering Barbell and Zone Smelling Salts for supporting me as well.
​

Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC West Virginia State Championship on May 1, 2021.
Men’s Junior Raw Best Lifter...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Anthony Lee , 21, started in 2017

Best lifts in competition?
Squat ~ 361 LBS / Bench ~ 240 LBS / Deadlift ~ 
470 LBS

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
Before I started powerlifting, I did Track and wrestling in middle school for a little while

Tell me something about your gym/team.
My gym, Monsters Bent Barbell, are a group of not only some of the strongest , but also amazing people who you can always go to for anything When I first joined the gym, I was instantly welcomed with open arms as a part of the monster family. 

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
Since I’ve began my powerlifting journey, I’ve always done it by myself. Never had a coach, just lots of research and trying to gather as much knowledge as I possibly can. 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
I’m one the most hardest, consistent, dedicated people you’ll see. 
 
Biggest inspiration in the sport?
​My biggest inspiration in powerlifting would definitely have to be Russian lifter, Yury Belkin.  I wanted to be the most perfect lifter I could be . Yury Belkin is the most efficient deadlifter I’ve ever seen and he’s a big part of why I’m such an efficient lifter now and he really paved the way for me to want to learn more on technique and really learn more about this sport.

What's your favorite lift?
My favorite lift is the Deadlift. It’s just a lift that’s my specialty and there’s a beauty to the sumo deadlift that I admire.
​
Least favorite lift?
Least favorite lift would be bench. I’m not the strongest on it so just not a huge fan. 

Biggest challenge in your training?
The biggest challenge in training is just consistency. I stress it a lot. Some days you just don’t feel up to working out at all, but that’s what makes champions. The days you don’t feel like going in, you still go no matter what. 

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
I’m a more passive aggressive lifter so a focused atmosphere is my liking. 

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
​Most of the time I program myself. I will be getting a coach soon, tho.

Social media.  Positives and negatives
The positives of social media is i like to share my life a lot through that. The negatives are the hate you can get on occasion. 

Diet you follow? Supplements?
​All I take is Protein, Creatine, and Preworkout

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
​My biggest accomplishment in powerlifting would for sure be recently winning best lifter. It’s been my life goal in this sport since I’ve taken it seriously. 

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
To eventually get my certification and be a coach, training other athletes. 

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
​​I’d like to give a shout-out to Monsters Bent Barbell for giving me an amazing place to be able to train, my girlfriend, Jodi, for always being my #1 supporter in everything I do, and my buddy Cody for always pushing me in the gym. 

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.