Contest Review:

2011 Support the Troops Benefit Meet

Saturday, November 5

Olympic Gym * San Antonio, Texas

The Lord is our Strength! The 2011 Support the Troops Benefit Meet defined why gym meets are so fun! Holding our first meet at San Antonio’s Olympic Gym in the great state of Texas, it was standing-room-only from start to finish! And thanks to powerlifting legends Jill Mills and Gene Bell, the contest ran extremely smooth while funds were raised to support Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org). On the women’s side, Chelsea Warren shattered the record books with a 275 pound squat, a 150 pound bench, and the 360 pound deadlifted pictured below. Chelsea even joined our federation tradition and enjoyed a “Cuba Libre” cigar to celebrate her efforts!

Competing under the direction of Multi-World Champion Gene Bell,

Chelsea Wrenn nails a 360 pound record deadlift The contest also saw the return of 2002 World’s Strongest Woman Jill Mills to the competitive platform. I had the pleasure of meeting Jill earlier this year and Extremity Games, and she was instrumental in introducing me to Olympic Gym owner J.D. Wennermark and Gene, putting together the incredible crew that supported the meet, and helping me host our first meet in the Lone Star State. Jill was nursing an injured elbow, but nonetheless spotted, loaded, and judged before pulling an easy 530 pound deadlift pictured below. It is important to note that Jill’s best deadlift ever was 562, and she had plenty in the tank with her 530 pound effort. With the 2012 RAW Unity Meet just around the corner, all we can say is, “LOOK OUT!”

Jill Mills locking out with an easy 530 pound deadlift at the

Support the Troops Benefit Meet Hailing from Copperas Cove, Texas, thirteen-year-old Junior Fridline led the men’s charge, posting record lifts across the board in the 105s; pictured below is Junior ripping a 160 pound record deadlift!

Junior Fridline

As defined in the contest title, the meet was scheduled as a fundraiser for Wounded Warrior Project. Several warriors from WWP’s TRACK Program (a twelve-month education and employment program) competed for the first time, to include Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans Alan Busby and Evan Hudec.

Alan Busby (top) and Evan Hudec (bottom) of San Antonio, Texas

Olympic Gym lifter Jesse Noell, an active duty soldier currently stationed at Brooke Army Medical Center, registered an impressive 1225 pound total that included the 550 pound deadlift pictured below.

Jesse Noell pulling strong!

Joining Jesse in the 198s were Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans Jacob Tabora and Luis Chavez, as well as TRACK’s Marcus Washington who serves our warriors as the program’s APEX Peak Performance Director.

Jacob Tabora of Converse, Texas

Luis Chavez of San Antonio, Texas

APEX Peak Performance Director Marcus Washington of San Antonio, Texas

All three lifters competed for the first time, and we look forward to seeing their numbers climb at our next meet at Olympic Gym in February. The 220s consisted of three more TRACK students – Michael Gallardo, Charlie Huffstuttler, and Mike Bavo. All served in Iraq before becoming a part of Wounded Warrior Project; Michael and Charlie competed in the full power division and Mike, who is currently interning at Olympic Gym, entered the push/pull.

Michael Gallardo trains for both distance events and powerlifting

Charlie Hufstuttler of San Antonio, Texas

Mike Bravo helped out on the platform while competing in the push/pull

In the 242s, Jeremy King of Huntsville, Texas and David Martinez of Corpus Christ, Texas had record breaking days. Jeremy was flawless on the platform, going nine for nine with lifts of 500 in the squat, 425 in the bench, and 575 in the deadlift.

Jeremy King lets out a victory cry after locking out this 575 pound deadlift!

David attended the meet in hopes of hitting a qualifying bench for the 2012 RAW Unity Meet. After missing his first two attempts, David came back and nailed the 465 pound bench pictured below.

David Martinez nails a 465 pound record bench and qualifies for RAW Unity!

Wounded Warrior Zech Gray had planned to just bench, but switched to the push/pull during warm-ups; he is pictured below finishing the day strong with a 425 pound deadlift.

Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Zech Gray locked out with a 425 pound pull!

Thanks to everyone for your generous support of America’s wounded warriors! Above: Jacob Tabora, Mike Bravo, Luis Chavez, and Michael Gallardo

Below: Paul Pace and Alan Busby

Special thanks to J.D. Wennermark, Jill Mills, and Gene Bell of Olympic Gym in San Antonio, Texas for hosting the meet; Gene Bell, Jill Mills, and Jon Drummond for officiating; Andre Gholson, Jill Mills, Steve Calamars (Yasou, brother!), Ryan Carillio, Wes Zucker, and Kyrylo Olenych for spotting and loading; Ryan Carillio, Wes Zucker, and Molly Jaeger for announcing and scoring; Ed Kelly for supporting me and the warriors; James Humphreys for the awesome “SHUT UP AND SQUAT” shirts from Olympic Gym; and everyone for helping with the set up and clean up. More thanks to Sir

Charles Venturella for the awesome contest plaques; Brigid and the folks at Sandpiper Sportswear for the awesome “Squataholic” shirts; and J.D. Wennemark for the countless hours he put in to make the meet a success! Thanks! Finally, and most important, thanks to our brave servicemen and women for defending America, the wounded warriors that selflessly served, and to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for making it all possible! God Bless, Spero

It was truly an honor to share the platform with our warriors and the great folks at Olympic Gym!

INB IRONMAN, No Belt IB IRONMAN, Belt RAW RAW

Women’s Division: 165 20-24 Chelsea Wrenn (RAW) 275 150 340 765 4

th 360

181 35-39 Jill Mills (IB) - - 530 -

Men’s Division: 105 12-13 Junior Fridline (INB) 100 80 160 340 165 25-29 Alan Busby (IB) 190 115 310 615 181 25-29 Evan Hudec (IB) - 135 - -

198 25-29 Jesse Noell (RAW) 370 300 550 1220

50-54 Spero Tshontikidis (RAW) 425 250 525 1200 25-29 Marcus Washington (IB) 260 275 325 860 20-24 Jacob Tabora (IB) 175 150 210 530 30-34 Luis Chavez (IB) - 205 - -

220 25-29 Jeremy King (RAW) 500 425 575 1500 25-29 Michael Gallardo (IB) 235 225 305 765

30-34 Charlie Hustutler (IB) 225 200 300 725 25-29 Mike Bravo - 225 335 560 242 40-44 David Martinez (RAW) - 465 - - 275 35-39 Zech Gray (IB) - 205 425 630

In the end, it’s all about having fun!