The 2002 AWPC World Powerlifting Championships were held in Athens, Georgia USA on August 1,2, 3 and 4 in the prestigious Athens Athletic Civic Center, site of Amateur Olympic Championships of 1996.  The facility was located in the lush rolling hillsides of Georgia, settled in the shadow of the historical University of Georgia. The meet hosted over 115 lifters over these four days. On Saturday, officials sponsored a lifters banquet of barbeque with all the trimmings held in the Civic Center, which was a great way to share new ideas and workout theory while meeting fellow lifters.  Of course, the hot tubs and saunas became the meeting spots for lifters and friends.  While lifting competition was intensely heated during the day, the cool evenings offered a relaxed arena filled with lifters from many countries, in one of the most historical locations of the United States. During this time, all who attended shared a common interest---Precision World Class Powerlifting. 

Promoted by Nadine and L.B.Baker and coordinated by Jim Rouse, and again under the watchful eyes of the finest technical official in the sport, Gordon Santee, the meet provided a solitary platform which the lifters filled with many National and World Records as well as 9-9 with PR to boot. The fine staff of spotter loaders were ever ready as the battery throughout the entire 4 days of competition, permitting the lifters total focus on the job at hand.  These fine athletes were Ronnie Baker, Nick Diluzio, Michelle Clower, Ben Howard, Kenneth Johnson, Jo Jordan, Eric Stoker, Eric Stone, Robert Weaver and Thomas Wright.  Many thanks to the fine judges during these strenuous days of competition. Ed Angstrom, Ronnie Baker, Joe Deverille, Earl Leverett, Eric Stoker, Gordon Santee, Mark Vickers, and Martin Heindl of Austria were judging these lifts with swift expertise. And at the table, with unwavering attention to statistics and organizational detail were Nadine Baker, Pat and Ray Casper and Ann Leverett. Without such dedicated faculty and supporters, these meets simply would not exist. 

AWPC-Women's Division

The meet opened with Women's Open Division and seven competitors setting World records at the lightest of body weights. Very impressive female lifters, some with as little as two powerlifting meets in their history. In the 52 kg. class, current AWPC world champ, AAPF National and Florida Champion, Margaret Kirkland set a WR squat on fourth attempt with a 147.5 kg. squat, 75.0 bench and 142.5 kg. deadlift. Dione Wessels went 8-9, setting a WR in fourth attempt squat of 182.5 kg, 65 kg. bench and WR 168.5 deadlift,  while setting deadlift and total PR. Christine Wilson just began powerlift training, going 8-9 with a deadlift of 90 kg.  A former bodybuilder, powerlifting for less than a year and only 2 meets under her belt, Michelle Murawski set a WR 183.0 kg. squat on 4th attempt, WR 92.5 kg. bench and WR 165 kg. deadlift making her coach, Jim Rouse, a very proud guy. Naturally competitive, Michelle races Harley motorcycles with her husband, John. Seems like powerlifting could be your sport, Michelle. Samie Baldwin went 8-9, with a 182.5 kg. squat, 115 bench, just missing a WR 185 deadlift. In the 75kg. class, Brooke Finies finished 8-9, with a 192.5 kg. squat, 95 kg. bench and a  WR 158 kg. deadlift on fourth attempt. And finishing with a long distance traveler from Wales, Melanie Edwards completed a 100 kg. squat, 60 kg. bench and 140 kg. deadlift with a good total for a day's work.
 

In the Women's Master's category, multi-world record holder, Pat Casper went 7-9, squatting 115 kg. benching 67.5, and deadlifting 125 kg. in great form. Pat and Ray support AWPC meets with year-round statistical maintenance and Texas State Chair coordination. Competing from Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, Technical Sergeant, soon to be Master Sergeant,  Dru Amos set 2 WR bench lifts in second and third attempts,  110 kg. squat, WR 75.5 kg. bench, and 147.5 kg. deadlift. A yearly world class competitor and World Champion lifter for many years, Karin Heindl, 46 yr.old, from Austria, set 4 WR, squatting WR 88.0 kg, WR 43.0 kg. bench and WR 95.5 kg. deadlift. Such success makes the trip home a lot shorter! And from California, in the 52 kg. class, Chris Brigham lifted for 2 WR, squatting 105 kg.WR,  benching 62.0 kg. WR, and finishing 105 kg. deadlift concluding the women's masters category. 

AWPC-Men's Teen Division 

The men's competition started with 12 teen lifters, many world champions intent on breaking old records and setting new ones.  In the 52K class, Roy Fowler lifted 5-9 at 12 years old, finishing a world class competition, something that many adult lifters have trouble with. At 10 yrs. old, Aaron Colter went 7-9, squatting 30 kg. benching 30 kg. and deadlifting 55 kg. for a great show of power. Fifteen yrs. old, in the 125 kg. class, Kyle Davis found a piece of gold in a WR squat of 227.5 kg. 115 kg. bench and 195 kg. deadlift, finishing with an outstanding 537.5 kg. total.  Another outstanding lifter from Illinois, 14 yr. old in the 82. 5 kg. class,  Zachary Zenzen took home 3 WR,  with a 200 kg. squat, WR 120 kg. bench, and  WR 202.5 kg.deadlift, giving him a WR total of 522.5 kg.and Dad a great day as well. From Illinois, in the 67.5 kg. class, 16 yr. old  Mark Lukasweksi opened his day with a 170 kg. squat,  Mark finished with a 170 kg. squat, 97.5 kg. bench and 167.5 kg. deadlift. for a great day's work. Ronnie Stickney, in the 75 kg. class at 18 yrs. old,  proved great technique goes a long way  with a WR squat of 232.5 kg. 105 kg. bench and a  WR 238 kg. deadlift going 8-9. A two time world champion in the 82.5 kg. class, 17 yr. old Mark Mendoza makes his Dad happy every year, resetting WR after WR.  Mark set 240 kg. squat, 157.5 kg. bench and 222.5 kg. deadlift WR, earning him the outstanding teen lifter of the day. In the 82. 5 kg. class, Eric Stone, in the 82.5 kg. class at 19 yrs. old,  went 9-9 with 5 WR for an outstanding  day, ending with a 240 kg. squat, 142.5 kg. bench and a 210.5 kg. deadlift yielding a 593.0 kg. WR total. Another great Illinois lifter, in the 82.5 kg.class, 14 yr. old Casey Frizzell, finished a tough day with a WR 182.5 kg. squat, WR 122.5 kg. bench and WR. 198 kg.deadlift. From Allentown, Pa., in the 100 kg. class, 16 yr.old Patrick Allen finished a tough day with 5-9, squatting 222.5 kg. benching 97.5 kg. and deadlifting 222.5 kg. In the 110 kg. class,  Nicholas Diluzio grabbed a handful of WR for Georgia, squatting WR 227.5 kg. benching WR 137.5 kg. after setting and resetting 2nd,3rd and 4th bench,  finishing with a 192.5 kg. deadlift. Finishing the teens class from Texas, after a long year of shoulder surgery and rehabilitation, World Champion Justin Graham returned to the platform for an outstanding day, described by master lifters as perfect form, going 9-9 with 27 white lights. Justin squatted 215 kg. benched 117.5 kg. and deadlifted 227.5 kg.  The character and discipline of this sport was displayed in it's finest form by these fine young athletes. 

AWPC- Men's Junior Division 

Opening the Junior Men's division as first of three competitors,  Donald Beasock from Florida, in the 82.5 kg. class, going 7-9 with a squat of 205 kg, bench of 132.5 kg and a a deadlift of 202.5 kg. for a hard day's work. AAPF Georgia State 2002 Champion, Ken Moody had great day deadlifting" triple his body weight" at 250 kg. in the 82.5 kg. class.  Ken's squatted 202.5 kg. and benched 132.5 kg.for a great total. In the 125 kg. class,  Nathaniel Dutile showed great benchers can be great deadlifters too with a WR 205 kg. bench and WR 282.5 kg. deadlift, just missing 4th attempt WR in both. Great lifting, guys. 

AWPC-Men's Open Division 

The Men's Open Division brings all eyes forward with some really great numbers and seemingly endless energy.  With over 18 competitor's late on Saturday, the competition began with 23 yr. old Dan Carpenter, in the 60.0 kg. class.  Dan squatted 172.5 kg. benched WR, one behind the other, maxing at 115.5 kg, and deadlifting 192.5 kg. From Portland, Maine, in the 67.5 kg. class, Tom Sunshine squatted 165 kg, benched 117.5 kg and deadlifted 182.5 kg. Also in the 67.5 kg. class, Joe Mukite found it hard to stay in the meet with a 62.5 kg squat and no bench to stay in the meet. Another long distance traveler, from South Wales, in the 75 kg. class, Julian Clement went 7-9, getting a WR 237.5 deadlift, 150 kg. bench and a 215 kg. squat for a great day's work. 2002 AAPF National Champion, Joe Espy went 6-9, squatting 242.5, benching 152.5 kg and deadlifting 215 kg. From Athens, Georgia, in the 100 kg. class, Steve Fogle finished a near perfect day with 8-9, squatting 185 kg, benching 137.5 kg and deadlifting 190 kg. In the 100 kg. class,  Danny Dover came to Athens to set an open deadlift record and he did just that with a WR OPEN deadlift of 287.5 kg., bench of 205 kg. and squat of 282.5 kg. From Sunrise, Florida, Samuel Gissing, in the 110 kg. class squatted 325 kg, benching 195 kg and deadlifting 300 kg just missing a 4th attempt WR deadlift of 320.5 kg. for a great day's work. Roland Ingrisam went 7-9 in the 100 kg. class, squatting 255 kg, benching 160 kg and deadlifting 250 kg. for nice day of lifting.  Also in the 110 kg. class, Jo Jordan, from Orlando Florida, went 7-9, squatting 260 kg. benching 165 kg and pulling 242.5 kg. 

With an outstanding bench day, in the 110 kg. class, Andrew Connors went 8-9, squatting 320 kg. setting and resetting 3 WR benches with a max of 240 kg. and a 280 kg deadlift. Again, from Sarasota Florida, Mike Allocco had another outstanding day of world class lifting with 8-9, squatting 327.5 kg. benching 242.5 kg and deadlifting 287.5 kg. for a 857.5 kg. total for a great day. Many of these lifters return to break previous PR and WR each year, showing that determination and hard work wins out every time. Another Georgia lifter, Eric Stoker, in the 140 kg. class, squatted 182.5 kg, benched 115 kg and deadlifted 305 kg. just missing a 4th attempt WR. Taking the best lifter again this year, 2001 sub master's world best lifter, Scott Edmiston, 140 kg. class, went 9-9, setting another squat WR 365 kg, benching 220 kg. and setting WR OF 305 kg. for a huge 890 kg. total for the day.  Scott, " The Growler" would not get a haircut until after world competition. Love your hair!  Great day, Scott. Opening the SHW, from Garfield, Georgia, Billy Wilson, 2002 AAPF Florida State SHW Champion, squatted 287.5 kg. benched 175 kg. and deadlifted 250 kg. A huge Canadian competitor, Glenn Snelgrove, SHW, squatted 327.5 kg, benched 227.5 kg and deadlifted 272.5 kg for a 827.5 total. From Samoa, Vae Mafuli had a stunning day with 7-9, squatting 342.5 kg. benching 205 kg. and pulling 295 kg. for 842.5 kg  for a  grand day's effort. With the highest total of the day of 935 kg. and 2 WR, Chad Aichs squatted WR 387.5 KG, benched 227.5 kg and pulled a WR deadlift of 320 kg. 

I will be honest here, I found it very difficult to hold the camera still  with these guys putting numbers on the slate.  I had the privilege of close up shots while the chalk was flying, not to mention the weight! 

AWPC-Men's Sub master Division 

This division included 14 competitors with representatives from three countries.  Opening the competition was Duke Naughton from Albany N.Y. in the 75 kg. class with a perfect score of 9-9 setting WR in each lift and WR total as well.  With 6 WR, Dyke squatted WR 233.5, benched WR 174.5 and deadlifted 192.5 kg. setting a WR total of 600.5 kg. A great deadlifter from South Wales, in the 75 kg. class,  Julian Clement went 7-9, squatting 215, benching 150 and setting WR with 237.5 kg.  From Kingsport Tennessee, in the 82.5 kg. class, Rusty Whitson squatted 182.5 kg, benched 127.5 and deadlifted 182.5 kg for a hard day's work. Also in the 82.5 kg class, Adam Yezer, from Hollywood, Florida, went 8-9, squatting 165 kg, benching 155 and pulling 202.5 kg. A frequent world class competitor in the 82.5 kg class, from West Glam, South Wales, David Rees reset his previous WR, squatting WR 255 kg, benching 155 and pulling another WR deadlift of 255 kg. Bryan Ottey, in the 90 kg. class,  went 7-9, squatting 227.5, benching 157.5 and deadlifting 242.5 kg for a great lifting day. A local lifter, from Ball Ground, Ga. Andy Fowler squatted 205 kg, benched 132.5 and pulled 205 kg. The 2001 first place AWPC sub master, Dale Murphy from North Lethridge, Alberta, Canada, in the 100kg.class, got 6-9, squatting 225, benching 130 and deadlifting 230 for the day. Danny Dover, in the 100 kg. class, went 6-9, squatting 282.5, benching 205 and pulling 287.5 kg. just missing a deadlift WR. From Athens, Ga. in the 110 kg. class, Thomas Wright went 5-9, squatting 22.5, benching 132.5 and deadlifting 225 kg. Another New Yorker with WR burned in the heart and mind, Mike Wlosinski in the 125 kg. class, set a WR with his opening bench.  Mike reset WR squat of 350 and bench 210, then deadlifted 307.5 kg,  setting a WR total of 867,5kg for a grand lifting day in Athens. 

AWPC-Men's Master's Division

The master's division demonstrated lifting at it's best, reflecting focus, strength and fortitude. Over 30 lifters comprised this group on Sunday. Starting this event in the 40-44 yr. olds was 2002 National and World AWPC Champion, Michael Larsen,  from Garland, Texas,  squatting 175, benching 90 and deadlifting 195 kg. in the 75 kg. class. In the 90 kg. class, from Stone Mountain, Ga, Ted Carter went 7-9 squatting 150, benching 140 and deadlifting 237.5 kg. Robert Darosh had a great day going 8-9, squatting 205, benching 160 and deadlifting 200 kg. in the 100 kg. class.Incurring an injury while setting a WR bench,  2001 National and World Champion, Paul Genet finished the meet with a 240 kg. squat, WR 230.5 kg. bench.  All are wishing you a speedy recovery, Paul. 

In the 45-49 yr. olds, from Austria, Martin Heindl took home 3 WR, one in each category, squatting  185 kg, benching  128 kg. and deadlifting  210 kg. for a great day.Joey Keith squatted 200 kg. benched 127.5 and deadlifted 212.5 for a hard day's work.  Francis Reutiger, in the 82.5 kg class, squatted 260 kg. benched 142. 5 kg and deadlifted 242.5 kg. From Fort Worth, Texas, in the 100 kg. class, Charlie Gomez reset his 2001 WR. bench with a squat of 102.5, WR bench of 192.5 kg and a deadlift of 197.5 kg.  Another fine lifter from Florida, Thomas Roman, in the 125 kg. class, went 7-9, squatting 150 kg, benching 172.5 and deadlifting 232.5 kg. for a grand total of 655 kg.  This frequent world class lifter is AAPF 2000 and 2001 125 kg. class master champion,  Gil Villanueva, squatting 242.5, benching 170 kg and deadlifting 222.5 kg. on a hard day. From Nazareth Pa., Howard Miller went 7-9, squatting 205, benching 147.5 and pulling 225. kg. for a great day.Traveling from Reno, NV, Ted Stewart can't seem to lift a bar without WR attached to it. .  Ted opened squat and deadlift WR. taking 4 WR for the day with a WR squat of  272.5, bench of 152 and a WR deadlift of 270 kg. for 694.5 kg. total. 

In the 50-54 yr. olds, a local lifter from Kennesaw, Ga. Robert Lovelace brought two WR home, squatting 190 kg. benching 150 kg. and 220 kg. deadlift, just missing a 4th attempt.  From Hoffman Estates, Il. Mario Nigro took his gold home with a 250 kg. squat,115 kg. bench and a WR 205 kg. deadlift in the 82. 5 kg class.A proud coach and father, Dick Zenzen, in the 100 kg. class, reset is WR squat of 275, bench of 140 and deadlift of 227.5 kg. Finishing the group of 50-54 yr. olds,  Jon Hurtado had a tough squat day, but set his WR with a 167.5 bench, squat of 102.5 and deadlift of 197.5 kg. 

The 55-59 yr. olds start with a lifter for Lancing, Mi. Ted Feight, in the 67.5 kg. class, squatting WR. 150 kg, benching 87.5 kg. and deadlifting WR 155 kg.  With a new American record in deadlift,  in the 90 kg. class, Ed Sapienza went 9-9, squatting 187.5, benching 133 and pulling an AR of 187.5 kg. for a great day of lifting. 

In the 60-64 yr. olds, from Chicago, Richard Flores, went 7-8 setting 3 WR for the day.  Richard squatted WR 234 kg, benched 117.5 kg. and deadlifted 243.5 kg.  A very stubborn man from Sarasota Florida, Roy Barnes, lifted just 3 days before an elective surgery, just because "he's a lifter". Roy squatted 250 kg. benched 142.5 and deadlifted 165 kg. before leaving the platform for a hospital bed.  Speedy recovery to you, Roy and your Doctor!A multi-world record holder in 100 kg. class  from Plano, Texas, Bob Bassman,  set 3 WR, squatting WR.205 kg., benching WR 155 and deadlifting 190 kg. for a very nice show. Finishing these great athletes,  was 7 time WR holder from Wales, in the 125 kg. class,  Michael Brown, squatting WR 235 kg, benching 95.0 kg. and WR 235 kg. for the day. 

The most inspirational of lifters to me, the 65-69 yr. olds, started with David Gellman squatting 65 kg. benching 70 kg and deadlifting 80 kg. for WR deadlift.   From Silverwood, MI, in the 67.5 kg. class, Richard Eidcumb, squatted 142.5 kg, 102.5 kg. and deadlifting 162. 5 kg. Participating in the most powerlifting competitions known to man, multi-world record holder,  Fred Glass went 6-9, squatting 160 kg. benching 57.5 kg. and deadlifting 185 kg. . Fred, you look too good on the platform to stop now. 
 

AWBC-BENCH ONLY
 

Women 

Two women competed in the category.  From Austria, in the 56 kg. class, Karen Heindl, opened with WR 37.5 and re-set with WR 41. kg. for the day.Dru Amos, in the 60 kg. class,  from Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, benched 72.5 kg. for the category. Both women competed in the 3 lift meet as well. 

Men 

Note should be made that most of these lifters competed in the 3 lift meet as well. 

Until then, 

Happy Lifting, 

Lynn Graham