JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
The West Fitness Center hosted the 2nd Annual Bench Press/Deadlift Meet here, Jan. 16, 2015.
The competitors were split into male and female categories, with the competition open to all military, dependents, Department of Defense civilians and Naval Air Facility employees, 18 years of age or older, assigned to the base.
The challengers were judged according to the Wilks formula, commonly used in weightlifting competitions to determine the best lifter by weight class.
Chief Master Sgt. Troy Saunders, Vehicle Management career field manager and avid power lifter, judged the competitors.
"I've been weightlifting for about 20 years and it's always great to see young Airmen pushing themselves to get better and stronger," said Saunders.
Staff Sgt. April Spilde, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard training instructor, won the female category with a maximum bench press of 160 pounds and maximum deadlift of 315 pounds.
"I didn't go into it expecting to win, but I gave it my all anyway," said Spilde. "I'm training for the Southern Powerlifting Federation meet in Ohio in April to compete against over 80 other women from around the world, so this meet was my motivator and built experience."
Spilde wasn't the only champion that day. Army Staff Sgt. Ernest Manley, DC Armory 273rd Military Police Company, was the male category champion.
"My maximum bench press was 350 pounds and maximum deadlift was 550 pounds," said Manley. "I've competed in other power lifting competitions before, but this was the first one I've won, so it was very exciting for me."
Saunders informed all eligible competitors that he would like to take a team of weightlifters to compete in the U.S.A. Power Lifting Military Nationals competition this year on March 14 at the Hilton Garden Inn in East Point, Georgia, and is taking applications until February 10th.