Eric Stone:  Tell us a bit about yourself, how old you are, what you do, where you live, where you grew up and anything else general you'd like to add about your life outside powerlifting.

Eric Maroscher:  Sure.  I am as of this interview, 36 years old, 5'9" tall and compete in the 100 kilo class.  I have lifted weights it seems like forever, but I had my first competition 15 years ago while a freshman in college.  I was born in Ohio but I have lived in a variety of places throughout my life (New Orleans, LA; Pittsburgh, Penn.; Columbus, Ohio; Wheeling, West Virginia; Marion, Illinois).  I graduated from high school in Marion, and received my BA and MS from Eastern Illinois University.  I received my MA from Governors State University.  I work in education and began my career as a guidance counselor, then dean, then assistant principal.  I recently moved from the south side up north to the Gurnee area where I am an assistant principal at Libertyville High School.  When I am not in the gym or at work I play guitar, love to cook, LOVE to eat and enjoy playing my classic arcade games.  Robotron rules Eric!

ES:  What are your best lifts in powerlifting in competition and training, and at what weight?

EM:  My best lifts are [squat-training 807 @ 217] [squat-meet 755 @ 219] [bench press-training 460 @ 220] [bench press-meet 440 @ 217] and [deadlift-training 680 @ 220] [deadlift meet-671 @ 216].

ES:  What are some of your proudest accomplishments in powerlifting?

EM:  I have a couple actually.  Winning the WPC Worlds two years in a row was great.  Winning my second Worlds in Africa in November 2001 was a very powerful experience in that 9/11 was so fresh.  People were still scared to fly, we didn't know what was going to happen over seas.  It changed the whole focus from me as a lifter, to me as a member of the US team competing in Africa.  Also, setting the APF American Deadlift record was very memorable in that I had bronchitis at the time.  That lift was 110% mental in that I was so ill. 

ES:  What is your best moment in powerlifting?

EM:  Aside from the thrill winning in South Africa, my best moment in powerlifting was winning the WPC North American Powerlifting Championships by body weight.  It was a great battle the whole way between Randy Etsell from Canada who I met at the World's in 2000, and myself for first place.  I ended up winning by less than an ounce of body weight...one less biscuit we say.  Ha, ha.


ES:  How did you get involved in powerlifting?

EM:  I always lifted weights in middle school and high school but I lifted for simple enjoyment, or to assist with another sport.  I met Larry Tischer and Darrell Latch at EIU who explained how you could actually compete in a sport where just weights were involved.  To be honest, I had never heard of powerlifting until then.  That was the beginning.  Funny how things that are so life altering can start so innocently.

ES:  What type of training do you do?

EM:  My team trains four days per week.  Tues. [Back/bis/scraps]. Wed. [Chest/shoulders/tris.] Sat. [Heavy squats/heavy deadlift] Sun. [Heavy chest/scraps].  Preparing for meets we do heavy singles and essentially train with Ernie Frantz and the team in Aurora as the meets approach. 


ES:  Who are some of the people who have most influenced your training and powerlifting career in general?

EM:  Number one is without doubt, Ernie Frantz.  He is my coach and mentor in every sense of the word.  Of equal importance, I respect him outside of the gym because of his strong moral fiber and powerful work ethic.  He is, as far as I am concerned, the man when it comes to powerlifting.  He has truly influenced my training and outlook on life and lifting.  My first 600, 700, and 800 lb. squats were all done at his gym.  Additionally I admire Eddie Coan who besides being a living legend is a great guy.  Very helpful and very down to earth.  Also, the people on my team now (you just don't win on your own and anyone who says you do is missing the big picture) and especially the original members [Keith Early, Jim Metzger, and Walt Poldesak].  Mario DeBeneditti has always been there for me too.  He is a great powerlifter, friend and the is the best knee wrapper, I think, on the face of this planet.  The man makes you cry for your mama.  Ha, ha.  Other lifters I admire are Becca Swanson (she is a very smart lady and pioneer who is taking powerlifting to the next level), Bill Nichols, Russ Barlow, Tom Carnaghi, and tons of the old school guys who moved weight like nobodies business.

ES:  How/why did you go about starting the Maroscher Powerlifting Team?

EM:  I modeled my team loosely after my experiences with the Frantz Power Team, and I started my team to share my love for the sport in that Powerlifting has done so much for me on a level beyond the physical that I wanted to provide that experience for others like Ernie did for me.

ES:  How has lifting with a team effected your training?

EM:  Being a coach has made me a better lifter, without doubt.

ES:  How important do you think training partners like your team are to training?

EM:  I can almost 100% guarantee you that without my team I would not have the 2 WPC Worlds, nor the 2 APF National Titles.


ES:  How long do you see yourself continuing powerlifting?  For as long as you possibly can?  

EM:  I see myself sporting the gray goatee and lifting till my last day.  Powerlifting is part of my life like eating, sleeping, friends, family.  I simply love to lift and adore competition.  I admire people like a Louie Simmons who continue to put up huge numbers well beyond their 40's and 50's.

ES:  What is your opinion of the supportive equipment used in powerlifting these days?  Too much, or fine how it is?

EM:  Well, I am just one lifter with one opinion, but to me the different types just provide the lifter with more options.  I personally love my canvas squat suit, but then again, I adore my poly deadlift suit as well.  I truly believe that unless you begin to dip into the world of a triple ply, where we are now with equipment is fine.  Sports and its equipment change.  For example Jessie Owens was a gold medalist on a cinder track, and thus couldn't compete against the times of Carl Lewis on a modern track.  But, Carl was the best with that equipment, and Jessie on his track.  I think the same can be said of powerlifting equipment.  Canvas doesn't make Chuck Vogelpohl squat 1025 at 220, Chuck makes Chuck squat 1025 at 220.  Tons of guys use equipment and none of them are champions due to equipment alone.  So the short answer is I like the variety available and that equipment keeps the lifter safe.  Where we are with our equipment is a nice place to stay.

ES:  What is your opinion of the professional movement in powerlifting like the WPO and Mountaineer Cup?

EM:  I think Eric if you look at any pro-sport there had to be a beginning.  I think the WPO has done a nice job taking the sport into the world of the mainstream.  Everyone seems to have an opinion or an issue on how guys like Kierian Kidder are doing this and that with the sport.  The bottom line is that the nay sayers are just talking about it where as people like Kidder are doing it.  There is no road map, he and the Bench America guys and the Cup guys are blazing the trail and that is hard work.  I applaud their hard work and efforts.

ES:  What do you think about the Olympic movement in powerlifting?  A possibility?  Worth striving for?

EM:  That to me would be the end all be all.  This meet in Colorado is going to be historic.  Not to take anything away from say Curling in the Winter Olympics but if you can have a sport that involves a broom for goodness sake, at least let me have my powerlifting.  Ha, ha.


ES:  Thanks for taking the time to do this interview Eric!  You are an asset to Chicago powerlifting.  Is there anything else you would like to add?

EM:  I would just like to finish by returning the complement.  I have watched you develop over the last few years into a top notch powerlifter.  Your form is outstanding as is your drive.  You are good for the sport and I feel you represent the future as a competitor and as a leader on the political front of powerlifting.  I wish you much success with your site, your lifting and career.