Napa, CA.
On December 28th, lifters braved flash flood warnings, bitter rainstorms and traffic backups to get to Basics Gym and the third annual NorCal Winter Classic. Though the outside conditions were less than perfect, inside the building warmth and good lifting were the order of the day.
Lifting commenced with the Novice/Below Class I division, which was filled with new lifters, thanks in part to the generosity of Inzer Advance Designs – we offered a prize package for veteran lifters that brought a new lifter to compete at the meet. These lifters were short on experience but were long on talent. Gaye Lynn McIlwaine lifted at 132 and set all new women’s Master in each lift! Not a bad first try. Mary Titus edged her out of second place. Lazara Loveall had the biggest bench of the day for all the women and was our Top Novice lifter for the ladies.
Big Scott Cartwright lifted well enough that he’s no longer classified as a below Class one lifter! He took top honors in the division for the men with balanced lifting including a nice 473 bench! In second place, was Victor Tanverakul who lifted his way to Junior State Records in the squat and total. Ryan Hebeler, Barrett Marum and George Payne rounded out the top 5.
Up next were the Masters Women. Gaye Lynn rode her records to 3rd place in the Masters. Theresa Merenkov used a 281 lbs pull to take second place by two Wilkes points. In first place was Karen Polansky who simply overpowered the field. She had the biggest total by about 70 kgs and squatted and deadlifted over 300 lbs. Great lifting for anyone but she’s a master 4 lifter now and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. All three ladies and 4th place finisher Delia Chelgren set state records in their respective weight classes/age groups!
Stephanie Kubik and Star Smith battled it out in the women’s open. Star had the biggest bench press but Stephanie used her big squat and dead to win the Open and the Women’s Best Lifter Award.
In the Master Men Lightweight, one lifter scratched and to our surprise local Edgar Martinez bombed out in the bench. Edgar’s been lifting forever and I’ve never seen him bomb before. That left Lance Gima as the only Masters Lightweight lifter left standing! In the Masters Heavy, new Master Robert Ciano benched a new state record, went 9 for 9 and took third place in the process. Jerry Ahern, at 72 years young, rode his formula points and a perfect 9 for 9 day to take the second spot. In first place was Shane O’Neill who also went 9 for 9 and walked out with the Masters Best Lifter Award to boot! Some people say you don’t get older you just get better, well these guys proved it. Out of 6 Master Heavy lifters – only three attempts were missed – 4 men went 9 for 9 on the day. Talk about consistency.
In the men’s Teen PL competition we had a third generation power lifter hit the platform for the first time. Christopher Tremblay entered his first meet with his father Jerry Tremblay, Jr. and set a new Teen Deadlift record on his second attempt. He then upped it on his third attempt! Hayward Blake IV had some bad luck and bombed out last year. He was determined to make up for it this day. He went 6 for 9, won the teen division and took 3rd in the men’s Open lightweight as well.
The men’s open lightweights saw Hayward Blake take 3rd place. Justin Cantwell, put up some nice numbers with a nice deadlift. The big story in the lightweights, however, was the return to the platform of Justin Maile. The Alaska transplant set Junior State Records in each lift and an open state record in the squat. His squat also exceeded the current American Record lift.
The Open Heavyweights saw Big Dave Freeland finish in third place. He dropped some weight but looked bigger than I’ve seen him before. He’s lifting bigger too! In second place was Jerry Tremblay. Not to be outdone by his son, Jerry broke his own submaster deadlift record on his third pull! Keith Kanemoto wrapped up first place and set Master Bench and total records. Almost as important, Keith came within inches of pulling his first 600 deadlift. I’ll bet we see it in April!!
The Single Lift Bench Press event drew a number of lifters. Luis Castillo set a Teen State Record in his first meet. Susan O’Neill set a Masters record of her own. Other highlights included Steve Pena’s 462 at 220, Duane Van Zandts 308 at 50 years old at 198 and Mike Bonifield's 292 at 61 years old and Rob Fornachon’s 187.5 lb lift at 75 years of age and only 165 lbs! Of course, Mike Hara also hit a 507 lbs opener at 165 lbs Bodyweight.
We finished up with three deadlift only competitors. Jeffrey Stanley pulled 451 at 148. Donn Imrie, my old neighbor in Hercules pulled a nice 501 lbs lift for second place. Masters DL winner Dave Bertier told me he was gunning for the Masters State DL record before the meet and he pulled it cleanly! Congrats Dave it was good to see you.
Thanks go out to Basic’s Gym for hosting this event for the third straight year. It’s a great place to train and compete. If you’re in Napa check it out – several Team California lifters train there. We were fortunate to have a loading/spotting crew of veteran lifters this year and they did a great job – Big Thanks to Deric, Dean from Oregon, Steve, Glenn, APF Garrett and Rob. Our score table staff and refs did a great job – Joe, Lance, John, Frank, Gina from Oregon, Joyce, Mikey, L’il Frankey, Bootsy and of course Mike K who helped set up and lifted! Without you guys nothing happens on meet day! We literally could not get it done without you. Thanks also to my sponsors: Inzer Advance Designs and House of Pain IronWear. They’ve supported USAPL California unwaveringly and make it easier for me to put these meets on!
Last but not least, thanks to all my lifters for showing up and performing! We do it all for you! See ya at the State Meet.
|
Division |
Place |
Lifter |
BWT |
Age |
Squat |
Bench |
Dead |
Total |
BWT Coeff |
Coeff Total |
|
BP Mens Master |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
114-181 |
1 |
Fornachon, Robert |
165 |
75 |
0 |
85 |
0 |
85 |
0.7136 |
111.3 |
|
|
2 |
Gray, Ferrel |
165.25 |
47 |
0 |
107.5 |
0 |
107.5 |
0.7128 |
82.91 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
198-SHW |
1 |
Bonifield, Mike |
229.75 |
61 |
0 |
132.5 |
0 |
132.5 |
0.5992 |
108.45 |
|
|
2 |
Contreras, Leo |
305 |
46 |
0 |
180 |
0 |
180 |
0.5598 |
107.62 |
|
|
3 |
VanZandt, Duane |
190.75 |
50 |
0 |
140 |
0 |
140 |
0.6518 |
103.11 |
|
|
BOMB |
Ludlam, Rich |
259 |
41 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.5778 |
0 |
|
|
BOMB |
Faler, Denny |
277.75 |
62 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.5689 |
0 |
|
|
SC |
Rust, Ed |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SC |
Reifkind, Mark |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BP Mens Open |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Hara, Mike |
164.5 |
42 |
0 |
230 |
0 |
230 |
0.7151 |
164.47 |
|
|
2 |
Pena, Steven |
220 |
29 |
0 |
210 |
0 |
210 |
0.6091 |
127.91 |
|
|
3 |
Marriott, Matthew |
181.5 |
22 |
0 |
152.5 |
0 |
152.5 |
0.6708 |
102.3 |
|
|
4 |
Meixner, Josh |
192.25 |
28 |
0 |
157.5 |
0 |
157.5 |
0.6491 |
102.23 |
|
|
5 |
Thomure, Jeffrey |
132.25 |
26 |
0 |
115 |
0 |
115 |
0.853 |
98.1 |
|
|
BOMB |
Ludlam, Rich |
259 |
41 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.5778 |
0 |
|
|
SC |
Jackson, Randy |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BP Mens Teen |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Castillo, Luis |
218.5 |
18 |
0 |
150 |
0 |
150 |
0.6108 |
91.62 |
|
|
2 |
Contreras, Adam |
185.25 |
15 |
0 |
100 |
0 |
100 |
0.6627 |
66.27 |
|
|
BOMB |
Derr, Nathan |
197.5 |
18 |
165 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.6398 |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BP Womens Master |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
O'Neill, Susan |
215.25 |
57 |
0 |
40 |
0 |
40 |
0.8387 |
42.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DL Mens Master |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Bertier, Dave |
197.75 |
46 |
|
|
252.5 |
252.5 |
0.6395 |
172.45 |
|
|
2 |
Imrie, Donn |
205 |
53 |
|
|
227.5 |
227.5 |
0.6282 |
169.21 |
|
|
3 |
Stanley, Jeffrey |
148.75 |
44 |
0 |
0 |
205 |
205 |
0.7713 |
164.92 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DL Mens Open |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Stanley, Jeffrey |
148.75 |
44 |
0 |
0 |
205 |
205 |
0.7713 |
164.92 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PL Womens Master |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|