COSTA MESA, Calif. – Marines from 1st Marine Logistics Group with Camp Pendleton’s varsity powerlifting team competed and won the team championship in the United States Powerlifting Association Military Nationals here, July 1.
During the USPA Military Nationals, competitors were scored on the total weight they squatted, bench-pressed and dead-lifted.
The competition was broken down into many parts. Service members compete as both individuals in their weight class and as a team. Each team was filled with members of different weight classes, and then were scored on how they performed within their weight class.
Due to their strong performance, some of the Marines earned spots in of the World Powerlifting Competition as well as the 2011 Olympia Professional Powerlifting Championships.
“We did great at this event,” said Sabrina Taylor, coach, Varsity Powerlifting Team, Camp Pendleton. “We got a few wins in the Military Nationals, and we won the Team Nationals.”
To become competitive powerlifters in “the world’s strongest sport,” the Marines have been training continuously to increase the amount of weight they can squat, bench press and dead-lift.
“The whole team has been very dedicated the last few months,” said Taylor. “They really buckled down and trained hard.”
Marines met or exceeded their goals and personal bests. One Marine, Sgt. David L. Douglas, motor transportation mechanic, 1st Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, even broke a world record.
“Our captain, Sgt. Douglas, was able to accomplish his 700-pound bench press goal,” said Taylor.
Other members of the team also did well. In the lighter weight classes, 1st Lt. Margie J. Rodgers, assistant disbursing officer, Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st MLG, took home the silver medal in the Women’s USPA Military Nationals 132-pound weight class. She began lifting in high school and has remained interested in the sport ever since.
“It’s like how other people are addicted to running,” said Rodgers, 25, from Waverley Hall, Ga. “I’m addicted to lifting weights. I like to see how much I can lift.”
The team will continue to train for upcoming competitions, including the World Powerlifting Competition and the Olympia competitions this summer.