Local powerlifters win division titles

Members of the Mountain Home Barbell Powerlifting Team pose for a team photo following their award-winning finish at the Idaho State Powerlifting Championships held earlier this month in Lewiston. In some instances, members of the team came close to also shattering several national records during the Jan. 5 tournament.

Four members from the Mountain Home Barbell Powerlifting Team earned division titles and set new state records during a championship tournament held Jan. 5.

The Mountain Home competitors were among many team participating in the Idaho State Powerlifting Championships in Lewiston.

Ty Hensley, a senior at Mountain Home High School, won the Teen SHW Raw Division with a three-lift total of 630 pounds. This was the 18-year-old's first powerlifting event, and his award-winning effort followed four months of recovery from knee surgery.

Jessica Doyle, a junior at the high school, won the Women's Teen Raw 165-pound division with a three-lift total of 540 pounds. The 17-year-old was just 29 pounds away from breaking the American deadlift record for her age group and weight class.

Dustin Meksch, 35, won the Men's Open Raw SHW Division with a three-lift total of 1,190 pounds. Meksch also toppled four state records on his way to winning his division during this month's championship.

Meanwhile, Wesley Beach won the Men's Masters Raw 242-pound Division with a three-lift total of 1,500 pounds. The 43-year-old, who serves as one of the team's coaches, earned his second consecutive state title during the Lewiston event.

Beach also broke three state records this year, including a deadlift of 625 pounds while raising 520 pounds in the squat. He was just 70 pounds shy of setting a new American record for a three-lift total and 36 pounds away from breaking the national deadlift record for his class and division.

All four team members qualified to represent the state at the USA Powerlifting Raw National Championships, scheduled for July in Orlando, Fla.

USA Powerlifting is the nation's leading powerlifting organization and a member of the International Powerlifting Federation. The governing body of powerlifting internationally, the IPF includes of member federations from 83 countries on six continents.

Distinct from weightlifting where weight is lifted above the head, powerlifting features three lifts: the squat, bench press and deadlift. Powerlifting competitions can include one, two or all three of these lifting disciplines.

Athletes are categorized by sex, age and body weight. Each competitor is allowed three attempts at each lift with the best lift in each discipline added to their total. The competitor with the highest total is the winner. In cases where two or more lifters achieve the same total, the person with the lightest body weight wins.

In the United States, USA Powerlifting has representative chairs in 44 states. Each state chair is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of USA Powerlifting's local competitions, state championships and state records.

"These drug-free, amateur athletes are powerful role models in the world of competitive sports," associaiton representatives said. "Their dedication, hard work and winning attitudes are a testament to the purity of competition for the love of their sport. In a world where steroids and other performance enhancing drugs have become the norm, USA Powerlifting stands apart."

More information on USA Powerlifting is available online at www.usapowerlifting. com.