Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Raleigh Ruckus on January 8, 2022.
Top Women's Open Wilks 2.0...

​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?

Amira Smith, 29, 10 years 

Best lifts in competition?

This past meet! 344 squat, 143 Bench, 421 Deadlift

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?

i played Basketball, Soccer, and did track in highschool. Zach and I actually both played college Rugby, done bodybuilding shows, and strongman. 

Why Powerlifting?

I choose powerlifting because it is an individual sport as much as it is a team sport. If I fail there is no one to blame but me. 

Tell me something about your gym/team.

My Gym is Project Sixkiller Performance and my team is the Sixkiller Squad. I coach my entire team including myself. 

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?

I train with my Husband, Zachary Zeus Smith who has his own gym and team; flex gym and team flex. 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?

 Something a lot of people don't know is I am also a full time teacher ! 

Biggest inspiration in the sport?

MY biggest inspiration is my husband. 

What's your favorite lift?

My favorite lift is the deadlift! 

Least favorite lift?

The Bench!

Biggest challenge in your training?

I would have to say our biggest challenge is distractions! Whether it is our two kids one being a 1 year old or the people around us we have learned we need to eliminate those distractions as best we can 

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?

Focused dialed in as well as high energy with the correct people around us. 

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

Both of us write our own programs and coach ourselves. 

Social media.  Positives and negatives

Social media is a great way to document your training through a cycle but can also be a distraction. 

Diet you follow? Supplements?

I eat fairly clean nutrient dense foods and don't do any additional supplements. 

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 

MY biggest accomplishment was this past meet coming back after a terrible pregnancy with 100 lbs weight gain getting back to the 181 class after 2 emergency c-sections and a knee surgery to total my best meet ever. 

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?

One of my non powerlifting goals is to travel as many places as possible with my family. 

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?

I would like to thank my husband who is my backbone and my training partner. We both are pretty hard on each other and don't let the other one slip up in order to produce the best results possible. I would secondly like to thank Pat, who does everything that no one sees to get us to where we need to be. Last but not least I would like to thank the Sixkiller Squad and Team flex for always showing up and showing what real teamwork looks like. Yall are the MVP. 

Best Lifter spotlight from the WPUSA Holiday Havoc on December 4, 2021.
Top OVERALL Wilks 2.0...

​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Micaiah Branch, 29, 4 years.

Best lifts in competition?
584 S, 368 B, 637 D.

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
I played sports in HS. In college, I was a football strength coach intern for 3 division 1 colleges.

Why Powerlifting?
I have always admired strength sports. My father was a powerlifter while I was growing up and it has always stuck with me.

Tell me something about your gym/team.
I work out in my garage gym Typically alone, but occasionally someone may come to work out. My home gym started out pretty basic. I had a squat stand with a pull up bar, an Ohio bar and roughly 700 pounds in weights. Prior to my first competition, I only was able to floor press for bench press. 

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
I typically train alone. I am a coach, but mainly work with elementary, middle school and high school athletes who want to play sports in college. Occasionally, I get clients interested in powerlifting programming. 

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
Honestly, I am not sure. 

Biggest inspiration in the sport?
Anyone stronger than me. I see people hit certain numbers and it drives me to train harder and consistently.

What's your favorite lift?
Deadlift

Least favorite lift?
Bench, but probably squat during a competition. 

Biggest challenge in your training?
Finding internal motivation to train when you don't have someone driving you. 

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
I like changing the stimulus. I don't like relying on external factors to influence my training. Competitions aren't predictable and you need to be ready for anything. 

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
I program for myself. I've considered a coach from time to time. 

Social media.  Positives and negatives
IG - Micaiahbranch. I post mostly training videos, but I don't really care about the feedback. 

Diet you follow? Supplements?
No supplements other than caffeine. I don't trust most supplements and I don't think the majority of them work. I don't have a specific plan that I follow. 

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
My last wilks score was 470. It was closed to being almost 480 if bench had cooperated. My goal is to hit a 500+.

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
Just to be happy. Nothing specific. 

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)? 
My wife, Alex. I have tons of family and friends who support me, and it would be too long to list. No sponsors, but always accepting them. 😉

Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Old Line Hoist on November 13, 2021.
Top OVERALL Wilks 2.0...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Joe Mountcastle, 19 I’ve been competing in powerlifting for 3 years now.

Best lifts in competition 
Squat:701
Bench:405
Deadlift:604

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
Before powerlifting I played football for 8 years.

Why Powerlifting?
Powerlifting to me is an amazing sport filled with so many supportive people, I love being able to push myself and others beyond what we thought was possible for ourselves. 

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
I train with my fiancé Rachael Kline. And have been doing so for almost 5 years. 

Biggest inspiration in the sport?
Biggest inspiration in the sport for sure is Eric Lilliebridge.

What's your favorite lift?
My favorite lift is definitely squat! 

Biggest challenge in your training?
My biggest challenge in almost every meet prep yet has been my deadlift. It’s very hard for me to dial in and get in my groove with. 

Least favorite lift?
Least favorite lift has gotta be deadlift! 

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
I love packed high energy environments to train in, it’s always motivated me! 

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
I like to do my own programming for the most part.

Social media.  Positives and negatives
Social media. Instagram: Castlepower02 
I love social media, I love seeing others progress as well as sharing my own. It would be a dream to one day gain a sponsorship! 

Diet you follow? Supplements?
No specific diet that I follow and the only supplement I take is pre workout!

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
Biggest accomplishment would be breaking a 1700 total as a teenager! 

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
I would love to open up a gym with my fiancé 

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
The one person deserving of a shout out would definitely be my soon to be wife Rachael Kline. I swear this women has pushed me to become so much more than I ever thought I would be, without her I most certainly wouldn’t be where I am today in powerlifting or in life itself. Thank you Rachael. 

​Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC Old Line Hoist on November 13, 2021.
Top Men's Raw Wilks 2.0...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Walker Blazek, 6 years

Best lifts in competition?
578 squat, 408 bench, 632 deadlift

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
i played various sports my whole life and settled on football through high school

Why Powerlifting?
powerlifting is an amazing way to set goals and achieve them. there’s nothing better than the feeling of walking up on that platform with murder on your mind  

Tell me something about your gym/team.
i train at Athens Health Club in Eldersburg, Maryland. lots of good lifters from our small town train there.

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
I like to compete with my little team we like to call barnyard barbell.

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
I’m actually a big sissy
 
What's your favorite lift?
Squat

Least favorite lift?
Bench Press

Biggest challenge in your training?
Staying motivated in early peak blocks of training.

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
I like loud 70s country music and no distractions 

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
Strength Studio TT is what i’ve been using for my 12 week peak. i self program otherwise.

Social media.  Positives and negatives
I like it but i think we rely on it too much

Diet you follow? Supplements?
i eat like a bodybuilder. lots of chicken breast, rice, broccoli, tuna, etc. big fan of PR BREAKER supplements.

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career?
breaking 1600 total and benching 4 wheels 

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
to start a family

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)
Shout out to Matt Schrodel, Mike Camus, Cam Mcdonald, Paul Jeng, and, of course, Waylon 

​Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC X-Factor Open on November 6, 2021.
Top Men's Raw Wilks 2.0...

​Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
I'm Jamaal Grimes, 40-years-old and I have been powerlifting now for over 6 years.  

Best lifts in competition?
Best lifts are squat (wraps) 235kg/518lbs, squat (sleeves) 227.5kg/501lbs, bench 140kg/308lbs and deadlift 312.5kg/688lbs.   

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
Track and field all through middle school and high school-100m, 200m, 400m, relays, long jump, triple jump, shot put and discus.  Dibbled and dabbled in different martial arts from Muay Thai to Kyokushin.

Why Powerlifting?
I never knew how strong I was until I did CrossFit while I was deployed in Iraq.  My very first max out deadlift was 4 plates and it was then that I became more curious about how far I could push myself.  Once I started competing, I started learning more about how to train and perform in the sport, and in turn, it taught me things about myself (discipline, intrinsic motivation and smart(er) goal setting and planning).  

Tell me something about your gym/team.
I'm typically a lone wolf when training.  I had a shed built in my backyard where I do most of my training.  It's called The Shinka Shack.

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
Haha!  I proposed to my wife at a non-sanctioned powerlifting meet held at Yokota AFB in Japan.  Later that year, we flew from Japan to the states to get married and two days after our wedding we both competed in our first sanctioned powerlifting meet!  I know that our bond is very unconventional, but you can't spell romantic without 'iron'.

Biggest inspiration in the sport?
I have several inspirations-Ed Coan, Steve Goggins, Lamar Gant, Taylor Atwood, Ray Williams, Jamal Browner.

What's your favorite lift?
Hands down the deadlift 

Least favorite lift?
Bench press

Biggest challenge in your training?
I became a new father in 2020 and it has definitely changed my life and the way I train.  It's not just about me anymore.  

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?
Mostly focused and dialed in.

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
I usually do my own programming, but I started the Juggernaut AI app over the summer to prepare for my most recent meet.  

Social media.  Positives and negatives
Social media is a great tool for connecting with like-minded people in the sport and some of our favorite lifters.  It can be a negative when either mindless scrolling becomes way too time consuming or opinions are enforced without people having an open mind to one another's opinion.

Diet you follow? Supplements?
I do not follow a specific diet.  I eat to live and perform, which consists of home prepped meals, tracking portions, and occasional eating out.  The only supplements that I use are tea (caffeine), pre-workout sparingly, magnesium and fish oil.  

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career?
Biggest accomplishment would have to be winning a national title and earning a silver medal at an international competition all in the same year.  

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?
Business-to open a gym.  

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
I would like to thank my wife for always being my biggest cheerleader and support system.  Also, there are way too many names but I'd like to thank and continue to uplift all of the lifters, coaches and gym owners that I've met through the sport who continue to support me as well.  Last, but not least, thank you to the USPC!

​Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC NorCal Lift-Toberfest on October 23, 2021.
Top Women's Master Raw Wilks 2.0...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?

Sally Goldman, 59 years old.  I've been powerlifting for about 5.5 years.

Best lifts in competition?

137.5kg squat, 80kg bench, 167.5kg deadlift

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?

As a child I played tennis and swam, and in addition to these I played basketball and softball in high school.  After about 30 years without doing any athletics, I was introduced to Crossfit at the age of 47, which was the first time I touched a barbell or did anything with weights.  When I was growing up, women didn't go to the weight room and it wasn't something I really ever imagined myself doing.

Why Powerlifting?

The part about Crossfit I enjoyed the most was the lifting. After a while of focusing on Crossfit, I decided to switch my focus to powerlifting by following the Power Performance Training program run by Sam Starlin that was offered at my Crossfit gym.  I did this for several years combining Crossfit and Powerlifting before joining Boss Barbell Club about 3 years ago.

Tell me something about your gym/team.

Currently I train at Boss Barbell Club (Dan Green's gym).  It's a wonderful gym where there are lifters of all levels including some of the top lifters in the country. Everyone is there to support everyone else.  When I did my first meet at the gym, Kristy Hawkins asked if I had a handler and offered to be my handler when she heard I didn't yet have someone to do that for me.  It's an amazing environment to train for so many reasons.

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?

Other than my training sessions with Dan, I train on my own but find that I can do much better when at the gym with others there even though we are all following our own programs.  If there was a team training session then I think that would fit me well.

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?

I spent 18 years as a Professor of Computer Science at Washington University in St. Louis including having an endowed chair before moving to the Bay Area to join Google Research.

Biggest inspiration in the sport?

I am inspired by strong women like Kristy Hawkins and Terri Ashley and also one of my favorite Master Athletes, Linda Franklin, who keeps getting stronger even at 65.  It reminds me that I can still push for PRs at an age where many think that women can't get stronger.  

What's your favorite lift?

I really enjoy all the lifts.  Deadlifts come the most natural to me.

Least favorite lift?

I feel like bench is my weakest lifts, and the one that is hardest to improve.

Biggest challenge in your training?

In October 2019 my husband was diagnosed with appendix cancer, and he passed away in August 2020.  During much of this time, I had to completely step away from powerlifting and work so that I could care for him.  With all that had happened combined with not being able to get to the gym because of the COVID pandemic, I found it really hard to find the motivation to return to powerlifting and had lots of doubt if I could get back to anywhere near the numbers I hit in November 2019. I decided that maintaining strength was important for my general well being so returned to the gym in July 2021 committed to putting in the work and to see what I can do.  I've been happily surprised with how much strength I've gained back since then.

Ideal training atmosphere?  Focused and dialed in or noisy and high energy?

Training in the gym where I'm not distracted by work and my adorable grandson (who always wants to be my helper) has worked best.  I've switched to morning workouts where there are less people in the gym which is good for me right now and also gets me home to have dinner with my grandson.

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

I train once a week with Dan Green which has been very helpful.  Along with being an amazing lifter, he's a really good coach.  My programming is formed  from what Dan does with me in these sessions.

Social media.  Positives and negatives

For me it has been positive and is a way for me to connect with other lifters including a lot of other "older" women who lift.

Diet you follow? Supplements?

I don't follow any specific diet or take any supplements beyond protein powder but do try to eat relatively clean.

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career?

Squat has been the hardest lift as far as improving my technique and being sure to consistently hit depth. At Boss of Norcall 11 (in Nov 2019) after having to cancel a trip to a USPA drug tested meet where I hoped to add to my World Records, I officially hit a >300# deadlift with a 137.5kg squat with all white lights.  Still chasing that 400# DL and 200# bench.

What's one of your non-powerlifting goals?

To enjoy being a day-to-day part of my grandson's life and watch him grow. Nothing in life is guaranteed and I'm grateful to have this opportunity.

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?

I want to thank my family for their support, especially my late husband who always encouraged me despite all the time it took me away from him to be at the gym training.  I would not have gone down this path without his support. I want to thank everyone at Boss Barbell Club, especially Dan Green for his coaching and guidance to help me see that I still have the ability to gain strength and set some PR goals for the future.  Also thanks to Sam Starlin for everything he taught me and for all his support as I began competing in powerlifting.

Best Lifter spotlight from the USPC NorCal Lift-Toberfest 2021 on October 23, 2021.
Top Men's Raw and OVERALL Wilks 2.0...
​Name : Forrest Cameron Bush

Age: 30

How long I have been competing: 2002 is when I started training to compete.

Best lifts in comp: I’ve been all over the place in weight classes but

788sq@239
420 bench @221
749dl@208
Best wilks 621 @208

What did I do before powerlifting: powerlifting literally and football and wrestling after

Why powerlifting: it’s my family I don’t know much else honestly.

Tell me something about your gym or team: Quest gym in ga with Sherman Ledford and crew. Doc, Wade Hooper, Caleb Williams still being an inspiration, and giving me the foundation to be the lifter I am today. I never forgot where I came from.

I personally train alone at the moment (or whoever wants to compete with me no I didn’t forget you Jess), no one really wants to train with me so I just keep on trucking.

Something training partners (NA) or followers don’t know about me: Since I train alone for the most part it gets kinda lonely. No one to push you but you. Which makes me very hard on myself given who coached me. Lots to live up to and I want to live up to the hype.

Biggest inspiration in the sport: Easy answer Caleb Williams and Doc Holloway. Calebs surgical precision when it comes to training and technical knowledge in the lifts specifically squat, and bench combined with learning the deadlift (sumo) from Doc has made for an amazing tool kit to build on all these years for me and expound on their teachings to teach others. They are an inspiration due to their selflessness to help others be as successful as they are.

Fav lift: dead though I squat every day

Least fav: bench (I have long arms and no torso)

Biggest challenge in training: getting enough sleep

Ideal training atmosphere: me vs me for a pr I pretend that I am my own competitor and I must beat yesterday’s me. Or looking at old comps on YouTube or name a source and putting myself in another lifters shoes. What what I do if I were there. I train like I compete no difference.

Training program: I do my own but to define it it would be as if Bulgarian system met conjugate movements with accommodating resistance (chains bands rev band overloads, boards, boxes, ssb ect..) so massive singles but using conjugate to prevent repetitive motion injury’s and still being able to train heavy. I don’t believe in speed work… frankly I never seen a wr move any faster than a snail's pace so why on earth would I train any faster than that.

Social media: not good at it and don’t find taking pictures of what I eat everyday or do day to day particularly interesting to be honest.

Diet/supplements: I had to eat the same thing for a really long time as a wrestler to make weight so for me it’s usually fish and rice, steak on occasion and not really into sweets. Chips over candy any day.

Supplements: I have adhd so I have to be kinda careful with the stim preworkout and such but never got much from it. Would rather just take my animal pak like I have since I was 10 that’s it really. I like simple and effective cause it can be done for a long time the right way and it’s hard to mess it up.

Biggest accomplishment: Seeing people I helped or trained or trained with stick with it and enjoy it. Personally IPl worlds 2016 and honestly 2009 ipf worlds first is the one you never forget.

Non powerlifting goals: To give back to the sport. I owe it to it this sport saved my life.

People I would like to acknowledge: USPC judges staff and spotters and loaders for putting on an amazing, and safe event. Caleb as always and quest gym as well as Jessica Burgoon for her first meet and those who were there in spirit and could not attend or going thru tough times. To those people I say your not alone and No story should end too soon. Stop veteran suicide ; .

​Best Lifter spotlight from the IPC Americas' Championship on October 9, 2021.
Top Men's Open Raw Wilks 2020...

Name, age & how long have you been Powerlifting?
Cortez Johnson, I have been powerlifting since 2018.

Instagram name?
tez_9282

Best lifts in competition?
My best lift is benching 518.

Athletic background?  What you did before powerlifting?
Before powerlifting I use to play basketball for fun and just workout to try to stay in shape.

Why Powerlifting?
I really wasn't trying to be a powerlifter, but a guy name Oran Smith, talk me into getting into the sport!

Tell me something about your gym/team.
I workout a HOAL BARBELL GYM, I love my gym and love to train at that gym.

Trying alone or training partner/coach, team?
Yes I normally train alone, but I also have a coach, which I feel like he's one of the best coaches in this sport, Rick Cornett.

Something most people you train with (or those who follow you if you train alone) don't know about you?
Most people that watch me train, doesn't really know how much of a man of God I am!
 
Biggest inspiration in the sport?
My biggest inspiration in this sport, is my coach, Rick Cornett! 

What's your favorite lift?
I don't really have a favorite lift, I like all of them.

Biggest challenge in your training?
My biggest challenge is trying to get my bench back in the 500 club at the bodyweight that I am now.

Training plan. Do your own programming or have a coach?
No I do not do my own programming, my coach does my programming.

Diet you follow? Supplements?
I'm not really on a  Is specific diet, but I do try to eat as much protein as I can. I don't really take supplements either, pre workout just most of the time.

Biggest accomplishment in your powerlifting career? 
My biggest accomplishment so far, is winning best lifter award at the world championship, which is what I just recently done!

Finally is there anyone you would like to acknowledge or give a shout out to (team, coach, spouse, sponsors)?
 I would like to give a shot out to the most high, God ALMIGHTY! I would like to give a shot out to my coach Rick Cornett, a shot out to Oran Smith, for encouraging me to be apart of this sport! I also would like to give a shot out to my family and friends, and a shot out to all my Facebook and IG friends that support! Thank you all very much!