Tulsa meet results!

[bigokie]

Well Saturday we were at the Physical Edge gym to watch Benchmonster compete. Me and Screwball were in attendance, Screwball having to back out due to shirt problems. He couldn't get his shirt to go right so he backed out, he will be there in July competing and will be close to 500 then.

Things didn't start too well. The rack on the bench that they used was too tall for his short arms. So we finally figured out that Screwball would lift it out to him. Not ideal but workable.
He opened with 450 in his loosest shirt. He pressed it fairly easily, but kinda slow. Next up was 475 which he smoked. That is an understatement. It was so much faster than the 450 that they weren't even comparable. This was the heaviest that he has ever benched in competition or in the gym, so it was a big record. Next we talked him into going for 505. The Oklahoma record in this federation is 501. He set up and got it up, but the board showed 2 red lights, he had raised his butt. He had pressed it and locked it out, only he slightly missed the lift due to his butt raising. I would say that it was a good day. He looked strong and nailed the weights. He won his weight class and also the best bencher at the meet. It was a good day. In May he will definitely be going for 520-530. If he doesn't then we'll sick Screwball on him.

Other highlights at the meet were a mountain of an older man who reminded me alot of Louie Simmons. Shaved head, huge upper and lower body. He squatted 800, then 865 and then had a no go at 900. The way 865 looked he could have done 900 but the guy who was running the monolift couldn't the the hooks to retract after he had lifted off the weight, so he sat with 900 on his shoulders for about 8-10 seconds before he could have even started the lift. He just reracked it and went on. He also pulled over 600. He was a monster, someone you just wouldn't want to mess with. I believe his name was Dave Burton. He was also 57 years old!!! He only benched around 300 due to a torn tricep.

 

[The mann]

great job to benchmonster!!!!!!!sounds like you guys are going to kick ass in oklahoma,.......

 

[k1401]

Thanks bigokie


was interested in the results!

 

[Geno_O]

Great job benchmonster and good luck on the 500+ at the
next meet.

 

[benchmonster]

Thanks guys,

It was a very good day even with the red lights at 505. First off, thanks to the board, and specific thanks to bigokie and Screwball for thier help, support, and being outstanding training partners.

The benches that they used for the meet sucked donkey balls. I am not making excuses, we all had to use the same bench, but the bench was made for a 6 foot tall person, and there was no way to adjust rack height. Same for the benches back in the warmup area. Also the bench itself (where you lay down) was way too tall, and did not allow me to move my feet out as far to the sides as I like, which led to my inadvertent butt raise on the 505. Regarding the butt raise. I did not realize I had done this. Because of the bad bench configurations, I was put into a body position that I did not like. The butt raise was not caused by an inability to lockout the weight, there was never any doubt on the lockout, it was just a situation of having my feet too close together, which allowed the butt raise. I will take steps to see this does not happen again. Let me say, it was nice having a 600+ deadlifter handing off under the conditions above. I was of no help in the liftoff, so Screwball is just deadlifting 500+ and handing to me. Pretty impressive in itself.

Other than the complaints about the bench itself, it was a well run meet. I was surprised to be opening 3rd from last. I opened with 450, and two 275ers opened at 500. One of the 275ers was a junior, and one was a master. The junior only hit his opener, and the master hit his opener, and then about 525. If not for the butt raise on the 505, I would have had the 2nd highest bench of the meet regardless of bodywieght, and the 220 open state record. But those things did not happen, and next time I will make them drag some 45's over to put my feet on.

I was fortunate enough to win best lifter-bench, and my division. I felt very good about the 475 and the 505, and I know if I had not been red lighted, I would have gone for around 525 or 530 for a 4th attempt. I tried to take the 505 over for the state record, but was told that since I was red lighted on my 3rd, I could not take a 4th. I will get that record next time.

The full meet guys were very impressive, especially the 57 year old squatting 865, and Shawn Baker, at 198 won best lifter, and his division with a 1650 or so. There were some very impressive teens there, including a 114er and a 165er who set records all day long. There was also a teen superheavy who set tons of records as well.

All in all, good meet. Made a good comeback after my last meet. Proved I was strong enough to go 500+, got a plaque and a cool trophy, and made some new friends.

B.

 

[Arioch]

Congrats. Sounds like you will hit 500+ with ease at your next meet. Kinda nice to have a less than perfect day and still take home best lifter awards.

Good job.

 

[I'D RATHER BE DEADLIFTING]

Great job!! Awesome that you smoked a PR and then still nailed 30 lbs more. Red light or not, you lifted it!! Great job, you make the board proud. Can't wait til my next meet.

 

[Prometheus]

great lifting there, Monster -- congrats!!

 

[Deciever]

great job..sucks about the bench though. Congrats on best lifter, and your 505 bench.

 

[Screwball]

Sorry about the late posting but I just got back into town. I hate to admit this but I will anyway. I took a digital camera to the meet so that I could post some pictures of the "Okie Crew" and specifically so that board members could see Benchmonster in action but I screwed up (hence my handle, Screwball). I dropped the camera on the pavement and the batteries fell out. Anyway, the images in memory were lost so I have no pictures to post. Sorry guys, I'll get pictures the next time the "Okie Crew" gets together.

Now to the meet itself. The meet was sponsored by the APF/AAPF and even though it was smaller than many meets I've attended it was efficient and the judging was real good. I really enjoyed watching the women, teen and master lifters. Many records were set in these classifications. Strength is relative and it's impressive to see a 16-year old, 165 lb. teen set mutiple records in each lift (I believe he squatted & deadlifted over 400 lbs.) or a 57-year old, 275 lb. master attempt a 900+ lb. squat. I was very impressed with many of the lifters.

Benchmonster had a great meet. Our expectations were for a 500+ bench and even though it didn't happen at this meet it will happen at the next for sure. Benchmonster seemed relaxed and confident. I was all jacked-up. I get nervous for other people, I guess, because I have no control over what is going to happen. BigOkie and Benchmonster can varify that I was sweating more than anyone at the meet and, yes, that included the lifters. Some guy asked me how much I lifted when BigOkie and I stepped outside for a breather. BigOkie started to laugh and I told the guy, "you wouldn't believe it if I told you." How come everyone always picks on the fat guy? (Ha, ha!)

The bench uprights were a bit too high for Benchmonster but I don't think it was really an issue in the end. The height of the bench pad itself was another matter, though. It would have been perfect for BigOkie or me but for Benchmonster it was too high. We should have used plates under his feet but we were distracted in the heat of the moment. One of those mistakes that you learn from, I guess.

1st Attempt (loosest shirt) - 450 lbs. - medium speed but solid - 1st is always the hardest - 3 Whites

2nd Attempt (tight shirt) - 475 lbs. - very fast and very solid - "text book" press - 3 Whites - judges commented that it was a very strong press

3rd Attempt (tight shirt) - 505 lbs. - speed slowed some and a little bobble at the sticking point - locked out strong - 1 White and 2 Reds - butt raise

I personally feel that on a perfect day with no problems that Benchmonster could hit 525 lbs. - 540 lbs. no problem. In 6-8 weeks he may open right at 500 lbs. I was proud that he took the negative McAlester Meet posting (Bomb) and turned it into a positive Tulsa Meet posting. Trophy's for class winner and best bencher were truly deserved. Almost had the 220 state record too. It was a great day and Benchmonster represented well.