ChicagoPowerlifting.com

[RyanH]

Front lines report:

John opened with 639 in the 308 class. His opponents included Tiny Meeker and Ryan Kenelly. John was unused to the thick foam pad on the bench and had a rough handoff. The weight was dumped into the upright smashing up Johns hand. At this point John had left bllod and skin on the platform.

John recovered well can called for the same weight again on his second. The handoff this time was good and John brought the weight down clean. He recieved the press command and the weight moved steadily up. Unfortunately John came just short of locking his left elbow and was unable to complete the lift. This left him without any further attempts.

Allot of great benching, and a ton of missed attempts. Everyone there was really going for it. Why not, it's Bench America.

Unfortuneately Illini Powerlifting had a very poor showing in terms of support for John. Being that this was an invite only meet, and arguably the biggest meet any IP memebr has ever been to it is very sad so few of the team members made it out. To those who were there thank you. It is so important to have your teammates there to support you, especially in such a big meet. Considering all that John has done for virtually every member of IP it is a disgrace that so few were there to cheer him on, and help with his shirt and equipment.
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No regrets...

For David.

I am combat strong.

[Matt76]

John gave a great effort today. I really thought he was going to get the 2nd attempt it was damn close. Congrats John for making it to BA3 and putting up a great showing

[waynedang]

John looked very strong on his second attempt. We all thought he had it but it stalled at the top.He left it all on the platform and you cant ask for any more than that. You represented your team well. good job








Wayne
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Pain is inevitable
suffering is optional

[Janne]

What a pity that an accident spoiled John's attempts. I hope his hands recover
soon enough so that he can write more details on what went wrong.
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Ancient viking farts are still out there in the atmosphere.

[RyanH]

Allright what is done is done. John said he had no regrets, but I will analyze:

1.) Wam-ups were very difficult to gauge. They gave a 10 minute warning so we were ready to go. Then they came in a gave another 10 minute warning. So that meant 20 minutes of sitting around. John elected to take another 585x1 off a three board. This likely took some energy.

2.) His opener smashing his hand into the upright. John's hand wasnt bashed to bad, but it was bleeding. I am certain it hurt even with the adrenaline. What to do other than try again. So there is allot more energy.

3.) By the time his second attempt had come around John told me he sat on the bench like it was IMPE. He said he took his time and executed. The lift was very clean. He simply did not have enough left in the tank at this point to make it. His right arm did in fact lock out. His left was truly an inch away from lockout.

Nothing wrong technically with the second lift.
_________________
No regrets...

For David.

I am combat strong.

[gr49525]

John,
It was great to be there to support you this weekend. I am amazed by how far you have come in the sport. You showed great courage coming back to within an eyelash of getting your second attempt after the issue with your first attempt. I think if you'd have had a third attempt you would have gotten it! Best of luck inn Reno. Also... thank you for the shirt!!!!!! Ron
_________________
Ron L'Huillier
WABDL Michigan Co Chair
WABDL Webmaster
WABDL World Judge
Goal: 700 Deadlift at 60 Years Young!

[Hudson]

Thanks very much to Roger Ryan for smooth, steady handoffs. I want to be clear on this: the 1st attempt handoff wasn't "bad." Setting up on a standard pad and then the Lamarque pad is very different and I didn't take this into account. I believe the 1st attempt train wreck had more to do with me being overly excited and not approaching it like any other big attempt that I might do at IMPE. You'd think that after 20 years I'd know something so simple as this, but the heat of the moment takes over and . . . shit happens. As Ryan pointed out, 2nd attempt was much better as I approached it just like in training. For some reason, I don't make this mistake in deadlift; only in bench.

As for my hand, nothing was broken . . . just a couple of nice gouges in the skin. It actually look kind of cool when I tightened the wrist wraps and the blood started to flow again. I know that in any other meet I might have lost a finger; the spotters were incredible.

Thanks very much to Ryan, Sharon, Yuri, and Blake for help with my gear and for keeping my head on straight (so to speak) after 1st attempt. Thanks to David Bergman for coming, and Matt, and also to Wayne and the Lockup boys for being there. Thanks especially to Ron for coming all the way down from Grand Rapids to see me lift.

The support of all of you was very important at such a big meet as this. When you look around and see all these superstar lifters, you begin to wonder what the hell you're doing there. But having you guys there kept me in the right frame of mind and reminded me of all that I've been through over the last couple of years to get to this point.

I was disappointed that the 2nd attempt with 639 was so very close to lockout and I missed it. However, I was totally satisfied with my performance. There were alot of little things that we could have done differently to perhaps get a better performance, but the important thing is that I got up off the bench after the 2nd knowing that I left everything there, including some blood and flesh. This is what counts in lifting. It was a hard fight, and I could feel and hear everyone there screaming for me to finish that press . . . that's something that every lifter appreciates on an attempt like that. Everyone wants to see you succeed. But it didn't go and there was nothing left to do by shake the judges' hands and thank the spotters.

My one real disappointment . . . and embarrassment, in fact . . . was that David and Blake were the only on-campus members who showed up. Here I was telling people that we'd have a good crowd of screaming Illini Powerlifting members, and telling people what a great, supportive team we've got. Was I naive . . . even stupid . . . to expect more members to make that long and difficult fucking drive up to Elgin from Champaign, or that arduous journey from whatever part of Chicagoland some of you were spending your weekend?? This is BULLSHIT, people!

I know there were some of you who couldn't make it, and I sincerely thank those of you who took the time to let me know that you couldn't be there. You guys were with me in spirit. Others didn't get a chance to talk to me, but maybe you had work, tests to study for, papers to write, or other very legitimate reasons not to go. I understand and you guys are cool.

For the rest of you, those who had no legitimate reason, who partied this weekend or otherwise had nothing useful to do: you've pissed me off big time. Do you have any idea what a big deal Bench America is?

Look, I'm a big boy and I've lifted at big meets all by myself with no supporters whatsoever. I didn't expect to have so few at this meet, however. But I can handle that. What makes me mad is that this is a sign of (lack of) commitment to the team and your teammates. I certainly don't want to see any member of Illini Powerlifting get invited to such a high profile meet . . . here in fricking Illinois! . . . and have so little support. That's not what team lifting is all about.

You should be ashamed of yourselves.

My one request: don't apologize/make excuses/make justifications.

Instead, show me your commitment and love of the team through your actions. Train hard, help your teammates, recruit new members, lift as a team, and support your teammates even if only one of them is entered in a meet . . . especially if it's a fucking LOCAL meet.

I'll be watching.
_________________
DL: 727.5 - BP: 700.8
03, 08, 09, WABDL World Champ
04, 05, 06 WABDL National DL Champ
WABDL National Collegiate Chair
"Development ends where satisfaction begins."
http://www.uhd.edu/sportsandfitness/clubsports/powerlifting/

[Ryano]

Congrats to you John. Just getting the invite to BA makes you a winner, regardless of the final numbers. Sorry about the first attempt, but I didn't do anything different on that lift as any other. I think maybe you were set up a little farther out than usual and I should have noticed it. Anyway you gave the second one hell of a ride! Like Lee said, "learn as much as you can and have fun". I think we all learned some and I know I had a great time. AND NO MORE, "I'm just a DEADLIFTER" crap! You compete at the Super Bowl of Bench comps....That make you a BENCHER/deadlifter. Hopefully, I'll be there competing next year. Like Bon Jovi says, "It's my life, now or never, I'm not going to live forever..."
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I can't wait 'til tomorrow, 'cause I get STRONGER EVERY DAY!
http://www.Ryanopower.com

[Yura]

John, you did great!!!
The lack of team support is frustrating. For those of you, who didn't come, you lost so much (respect mostly). That was really an AWESOME meet. John, i will post pictures and some movies later this week with the link.

[JeffD]

John,

I'm sure this experience will help you at Reno, and you'll be even more prepared to qualify for BA4. Get back in the gym and keep building that bench. Nice work.

Jeff
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0.4 bicep/belly ratio

[slagell]

[Hudson]

I appreciate that, Adam. Taking responsibility for our lifts is what we need to be known for. It's easy to blame someone else, and we see alot of that at other meets.

A highlight of BA3 for me was getting to talk to so many top lifters. I got Ed Coan, Wade Hooper, and Mike Miller to autograph my belt. Brian Siders is one of the nicest people I've met in the sport. Matt, Steve and the others from Bovine are great people (and what a logo!). The judges were excellent, in my opinion. It was an honor to get lights from Dr. Billy Jack Talton, even if they were red.

How about Illini Powerlifting entering as a team next year?

It's incredible to think about: I was literally an inch away from a silver medal at BA3.
_________________
DL: 727.5 - BP: 700.8
03, 08, 09, WABDL World Champ
04, 05, 06 WABDL National DL Champ
WABDL National Collegiate Chair
"Development ends where satisfaction begins."
http://www.uhd.edu/sportsandfitness/clubsports/powerlifting/

[big josh]

John,
I met you guys (ILPL) at the first Collinsville meet and told you how well behaved your lifters were. You said, "Thanks, we don't always get that." I was really taken back at how close you guys were to each other...everybody wanting their fellow to make their lifts just as much as their own. Through your logs and meetings at competitions, I see that you are the example for the team to follow. Basically, I'm saying that you have always showed me what a first class lifter is and you are a HUGE ambassedeur of the sport. Your contributions to powerlifting extend well beyond making lifts. Thanks for reminding me that powerlifting is so much more than lifting weights.
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Joshua Reyes

148-165-181-198-...

[Hudson]

Thanks very much, Josh. That means alot.
_________________
DL: 727.5 - BP: 700.8
03, 08, 09, WABDL World Champ
04, 05, 06 WABDL National DL Champ
WABDL National Collegiate Chair
"Development ends where satisfaction begins."
http://www.uhd.edu/sportsandfitness/clubsports/powerlifting/

[Mandrew82]

John you know how I feel and I don't have to say anything.

I just want you to remember that you're the reason I am who I am today.

I'll be back up to C-U sometime soon. Probably the 22nd of October. Perhaps you'd like to join me and the other SIUE folks at Taylorville for some benching that Sat. at 4pm?

I'm glad you were able to lift where you belong, with the best.

I'll be joining you at BA4 next year.
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Never Satisfied...

I lift for me.