Powerlifters break records during state championship

Brandon Beach during the 530-pound deadlift.

The Mountain Home Barbell Powerlifting Team shattered four state records while earning five division titles as they competed in this year's state championships, held recently in Boise.

Along with five first-place medals, the team came away with four second-place titles.

The Mountain Home competitors were among several teams participating in the "raw division" meet.

Events like this limits each lifter to using a belt, wrist wraps and neoprene knee sleeves. They are not allowed to use special bench shirts, knee wraps or other equipment to improve their performance.

Antonia Salutregui started the day off by finishing second in the women's 125-pound open (under 40) weight class.

Lissa Hall was first place in the master's 125-pound (over 40) weight class after setting three state records in the bench press, squat and three-lift totals. This was Hall's third state title, and she is currently ranked sixth in the nation in her division.

Misty Elom continued the team's winning momentum by claiming her first state title in the woman's masters 185-pound class. Currently, Elom is ranked seventh in the United States in her weight class.

Meanwhile, Jamie Neussendorfer was second in the women's open and third in the masters 185-pound weight class. In the process, she set a new master's state bench press record with a paused bench of 170 pounds, which has her currently ranked third in the nation for women over 40.

On the men's side of the house, the Mountain Home powerlifters had five athletes competing in this man-versus-gravity competition. Nathan Drake took second place in the men's open 231-pound weight class while Rowdy Spears was first in the division as both men marked their first appearance at a formal powerlifting meet.

Meanwhile, Dylan Puckett grabbed a silver medal in the open 183-pound class while Brandon Beach won his first state championship in the teen 231-pound division with a three-lift total of 1,256 pounds. This was the highest total for all teenage groups at this year's state championships.

Brandon Beach is currently ranked six in the United States among teenage powerlifters. This includes his 530-pound deadlift, which is currently ranked third in the nation.

Finishing out the day was the team's head coach Wesley Beach, who competed in the open and masters 264-pound class. Beach was nursing an injury this time around and was only able to take part in the deadlift event.

However, the coach's pull of 630 pounds was good enough to win gold in both the divisions to earn his fifth state title. He presently holds the number one ranking for deadlift in the United States for men over the age of 40.

The Mountain Home powerlifters remain one of the most successful powerlifting clubs in Idaho, the coach said. Over the past five years, the team has accumulated 86 current state records.

"The club believes that training and results come first, everything else is secondary," the coach said. "It is an extremely positive club to be a part of. There are no egos in the club; we only compete against ourselves and gravity."

The team is preparing to host its second powerlifting meet in Boise known as the Idaho Raw Classic. Information on the event is available online at http://barbell.mtnhomesd.org/ or by joining the team's Facebook page at "Mhb powerlifting."

The powerlifting club meets every Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the high school weight room. The club is free to everyone ages 14 and up.

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 all three of these lifting disciplines.