Powerlifters flex muscle in Lion Classic

By Chris Adamski
Collegian Staff Writer

Members of the Penn State powerlifting club flexed their collective muscles Saturday at the 2000 Iron Lion Classic in the East Halls Gym.

The competition, sponsored by the newly formed Penn State powerlifting club, attracted more than 20 lifters from Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as open division lifers of all ages from across the state.

A gathering of close to 50 people watched as three Penn State students qualified for the USAPL National Collegiate Powerlifting Championships, April 15-16 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The contest measured the composite weight lifted in three categories — squat, bench and deadlift. Each competitor was given three chances at each lift.

Erik Steiner (senior-kinesiology) won the 220-pound men's weight class with a composite lift of 1415 pounds, including a state-record lift of 600 pounds for the deadlift.

Steiner broke the record formerly held by Penn State coach and meet director Steve Mann.

"(Lifting 600 Saturday) was just the amount I was due to do," he said. "I am trying to reach 650 for nationals.

"Records are broken every training session in this gym."

Sarah Barr (sophomore-kinesiology) became the second Penn State woman to qualify for the national meet by winning the 148-pound division with a total lift of 590 pounds.

Despite winning Saturday, Barr, the current United State Powerlifting Federation collegiate national champion, looks to improve in the coming month.

"I hope to get a lot higher weight at nationals," she said.

Jeff Finklestein (senior-biology), also a current USPF national champion, won the 123-pound weight class with a total lift of 820 pounds, including a personal-best lift of 375 pounds in the deadlift.

Those three will join five other Penn State lifters at this year's national meet. Seth Abrams, Angelo Poulich, Andy Halko, Gleb Epelbaum and Marlana Hamfeldt also will be making the trip.

Attaining the national competition has been the goal of many team members all year.

Barr looks forward to being able to compare herself to some pretty elite competition.

"It's like you're competing against everyone in the U.S.," she said.

The event was open to anyone who wished to compete. The powerlifting club, which hopes to attain permanent club status by the end of the semester, advertised the event in the weeks leading up to it.

"We are trying to make it bigger and bigger each year," Abrams said.

Abrams, who serves as club president, said the event will be staged again in 2001.