Students competed in a powerlifting event that took place in the Student Life Centers gymnasium at SUNY Cortland Wednesday April 23.
Students showcased their ability to move heavy weight fast demonstrating strength in the bench press, back squat and barbell deadlift. All grades of students at SUNY Cortland competed, awarding 3 Men and 2 Women titles of the strongest.
This event showcased 17 participants, split up into groups A and B separating participants based on pound for pound strength, meaning how much you can lift in relation to your weight.
Groups A and B were separated based on how much you can lift in relation to your individual weight. Group A was considered the lighter lifting group, keeping these lifters together to maximize loader efficiency. Group B was the group of the heaviest lifters, placed together to make it easier for loaders to adjust weight per participant.
Winners were Joseph Vaglio in first place, Dan Weiss in second place and Eligh Peter in third place.
For the women, Kate Jenson placed first and Meghan Spencer placed second.
Jenson, now a senior, started the event when she was a sophomore, and it has taken place every spring for three years.
As director of the meet, Jenson reminded lifters to register their lifts; she was in charge of gathering a group of reliable workers to facilitate the meet. Jenson, who is graduating in May, competed in the event she started for the first time. Jenson sent out emails, updating participants of what information she needed in order for them to compete.
“It has been one of the best things I’ve ever become involved with and am so grateful for the past three years,” said Jenson. “Competing was so much fun, as nervous as I was to start, the support was overwhelming and made me realize how much everyone was rooting for one another.”
Those who competed in the tournament said how well it was put together. Freshman contestant Peter Cirvelli entered this powerlifting meet for his first ever competition and said he is grateful he did so.
“ It was my first time competing. Learning all the commands of the meet gave me so much experience for future events,” said Cirvelli. “I was able to compete in this tournament and did really well for my weight, the atmosphere was plus 20 strength to all your lifts. Everyone in the crowd was cheering for you”
The powerlifting meet relied on a team of planners who were assigned positions to help make this event run as smoothly as possible. Carmine Carlucci, a junior at SUNY Cortland was one of the many loaders at the meet.
Loaders were responsible for changing the weight for each contestant and adjusting the bar to the individual heights.
Carlucci had never assisted in an event like this before he said. However he said he was ready for the challenge.
“The intensity was real, especially once the heavy lifters were up, as a spotter and loader, I knew I had to be attentive at all times,” said Carlucci.
Carlucci said that the team of loaders ran through repetitions of what the live event would be like, preparing best they could to assist those competing. The loaders would also serve as spotters to competitors.
Carlucci said that Jenson did a really great job of getting the crew together.