AAU Junior Olympics Powerlifting Nationals

August 4&5, 2000

On day two the big boys lifted (198-319+ lbs.). The competition was phenomenal! All the lifters looked like mature, experienced powerlifters despite the fact that most have only been lifting 3 years or less.

One of the most fierce batles of the day took place in the 198 lb., 18-19, RAW division. Four apparently equal level lifters duked it out to the very end.

In the squat Josh Flemembaum (another Strength and Beyond Power Team member)took the lead with 420 lbs. This gave him a 15 pound lead over John Johnson who needed to tries to get up 405 lbs.

In the bench press, the star was "the benching phenom from Tennessee", Bubba Smith, who broke an American record with 385 lbs. Johnson hit a 300 while Flemembaum hit a 265. This brought the sub-totals to: Johnson 705, Smith 705, and Flemembaum 685. A fourth lifter, Josh Adams, bombed out on opening attempt in the bench.

In my opinion, the deadlifting in this weight class was the highlight of the entire competition. Very rarely will you witness a teenage, RAW competition that has three 500 plus pound deadlifters in one division. It occured on this day. This was what former American deadlift record holder Flemembaum was waiting for. Smith admitted to rarely ever doing the deadlift and ended the day with a 420 deadlift and an 1125 lb. total. The real battle was between Johnson and Flemembaum. Flemmy openned with 500 lbs.; Johnson opened with 520. Both looked real easy. Flemmy decided to take his second attempt with 525. It was pretty tough but he got 3 white lights. He then went on to try 535 and missed on his last attempt. Johnson hit 550 on his third attempt to wrap up the win. The results were: Johnson-1255 lbs., Flemembaum-1215 lbs., and Smith-1125.

He hit a 335 bench and a 520 deadlift. With a little more technique work on the deadlift, this kid has some "big time" potential to be a major threat in powerlifting for years to come.

In the 242's, Scott Ferguson, 15, dominated the 14-15 year old division. He squatted 525 for an American record, benched 265, and deadlifted 425. He attempted a 500 lb. deadlift for another American record but was unsuccessful.

Next were the big boys. In the 18-19, 309 lb.,equipped division, Jerry Pritchett had the audience dropping their jaws with the weights that he moved around like feathers! In the squat, big Pritchet opened up with 500 pounds and did it like it was a warmup set. Apparently it was, for he jumped up to 600 pounds on his second attempt, got it, then jumped up to an American record 655 pounds. Amazingly, this still looked easy, thus he took a fourth attempt at 675 lbs. and accomplished this as well. In the bench, he hit a 425 on his second attempt, then took a shot at yet another American record with 445 lbs. Unfortunately this did not go up. In the deadlift, Pritchett again took some major jumps in between sets going from 550 on his first, to 650 o his second which he got. Attempted a 700 lbs. on his third but was not successful. Jerry ended the day with a 1750 lb. total

The biggest lifter of the day was also the youngest lifter of the day. 14 year old Shane Yates, coached by Carl Summers and Shannon Pole Summers, competed in the 319+ division. This young man has quite a future in powerlifting. He squatted an American record 525 lbs., benched another American record 315 pounds, and deadlifted 500 lbs. Some heavy lifting for a 14 year old!

Overall, this entire event displayed some of the best youth lifters in the country. I look forward to seeing many of them competing in the AAU Worlds in Las Vegas in November, 2000.