The Maryland Powerlifting Report 2/14/08

In Memoriam

Paul Salisbury
July 7, 2007
Age 59

Paul Salisbury passed away - On July 7, 2007 due to complications of open heart surgery at the age of 59. Paul’s career in Powerlifting started in high school at the Albany YMCA in New York. His first Powerlifting Meet was in Gloversville, New York 1964. He competed and won several state, regional, and national tournaments. In 1974 Paul turned to Olympic Weightlifting, pursuing and receiving his goal of making the 1980 United States Weightlifting Team.

To read more, click here

Paul is the brother of Maryland powerlifter Steven Salisbury of St. Marys County. I just recently learned of Steven's loss. Maryland Powerlifting offers its condolences.


Local News:
John Shifflet (VA State Chairman-USAPL/100% RAW) has announced that he will hold the USAPL Blue Ridge BP/DL & Reps Challenge on September 27, 2008. More information to come soon!

Scott Taylor (President- APA) announces the following:

The APA Line State Open Championships will take place July 19, 2008 in California, Maryland. 4 contests will take place: Full Power, Push-Pull, Bench Only, or Deadlift Only.

Each contest will have full weight classes in each age increment and each contest will have RAW, regular gear, and UNLIMITED gear divisions.

Start training. This should be a large event.

For an entry form, click here.

100% RAW News:
BMF Sports will soon end direct support to 100% RAW (see February 4, 2008). Shawn "Bud" Lyte (founder/owner-BMF Sports) has managed both the website and the message board. As of April 1, he will longer perform those functions.

In a message at the message board, he seeks a replacement:

As you may know, 100% RAW will need new web management soon. A significant part of that will be a moderator for this forum. If you'd like to assume the task, please contact Paul ASAP. Whoever gets his go-ahead can take over as soon as we get word from Paul.

If a replacement isn't in place by of March 31, 2008, the forum will become unmoderated on April 1 and likely quickly sink to the level of most other forums.

There are too many good people here - in too good an environment - to let that happen, so if you're just a little web savvy and care enough to keep the positive experience going here, contact Paul at pres@rawpowerlifting.com to state your interest.

USAPL News:
Larry Maile (President- USAPL) shares the the 2007 Doping Report:

All,
Here is how the doping report looks for 2007:

UCLA tests: 29 tests, 2 positive, one for anabolics (etc.), and one for stimulants.
Institute Biochemie (Cologne): 2 tests, both negative.
Quest Diagnostics: 684 tests, 24 positive.

There are still a couple cases in progress which will affect final numbers, but this is what we have at the moment.

This does not include IPF testing: 34 tested, 33 negative, one in process.

All together: 744 U.S. lifters tested in 2007.

Updates- Women's Nationals
Tentative flight schedule- Friday and Saturday.

Sunday schedule- One session/two flights.


From Critical Bench: Interview With Powerlifting Squat Connoisseur Jeff Lewis
Interviewed By Ben Tatar of CriticalBench.com - February 2008

Jeff Lewis is an elite powerlifter that is a serious contender for the Total record. He has proven his merit in the both the WPO and USAPL federations. Jeff was kind enough to do a phone interview that has been transcribed below. Prepare to learn a thing or three from this gentle giant aka King Louie, Jeff Lewis.

1) Critical Bench: Ben Tatar here and I'm talking to Big Man Jeff Lewis. Jeff anyone that even remotely follows powerlifting knows how dominant you are in the sport. How did the journey begin for you?

Jeff Lewis: A guy named Joe Scalzitti got me started. He saw me the first day, I joined. I just turned 21. He asked if I lifted and I said "I just mess around, nothing serious." I bench pressed 225 for 4 reps and 275 for 2 reps on that day. He told me that I was too big to not do the sport. Then Mike Anderson took me under his wing and my powerlifting career took off from there.

2) Critical Bench: Wow, you are a lot stronger today than you were back then! What are your best lifts?

Jeff Lewis: Hahahaha, I know! Much, MUCH stronger!

In the USAPL my best squat is 959, bench 722 and 722 deadlift.

In the WPO my best squat is 1212.5, bench 815 and deadlift 771.

3) Critical Bench: How does it feel to have one of the biggest squats on Earth both equipped and unequipped?

Jeff Lewis: It's nice to do that in retrospect. It's a good accomplishment. I don't get all caught up in the numbers. Anytime, I look back, it feels good.

To read more, click here.

Jeff Lewis 1212 lb squat