Three times a week you can find the powerlifting club training in the Elting Gym Strength and Conditioning room.
Currently the club has approximately 20 people who train weekly for this sport that highlights both the individual and team competition. For each competition the focus is on the three main lifts: the squat, bench and deadlift. Each competitor is weighed at the beginning of each competition to determine their weight class. While the concept of competition seems simple enough, there are many factors to consider when competing.
When asked about the rules of the sport Senior Media Programming and Management major, Amir Hama, who also happens to be Treasurer of the club, said "For each lift you have three attempts for each lift. Ideally, if you do well on an attempt you move up in weight for the next attempt."
Scores are referred to as your total, and your total is made up of your heaviest lift from each of the three main lifts. Whoever has the highest total in each weight class wins.
One has to have perfect form to get a full score. Each lift is allowed three attempts, the judges give you two red lights as warnings and then the lift doesn't count, after the third attempt.
Hama added, "As much of an individual sport it is, every competitor wants to see each other do their best. They will cheer someone on during a lift even if they are directly competing. It comes back to this idea that powerlifting is a community."
Forrest Schafer, a Senior double major in Business Management and Spanish and current Powerlifting President, added that "joining the Powerlifting Club opened up my ideas about lifting and fitness."
Schafer continued, "There's no judgement, we're all friends, and the biggest part for me was the fact that everyone knew how much time, dedication, and effort it takes to step in the gym to not just show up but to train hard and push yourself. We don't have a coach to make us sprint, make us practice shots, and correct our form so for that we lean on each other for help and guidance."
Senior Industrial Organizational Psychology major Michelle Shalmiyev, who acts as Vice President of the club, feels similarly and added, "The vibes that I felt in a powerlifting meet are incomparable to any other experience."
On top of the community that the Powerlifting Club likes to build they've added fundraising to their schedules. This Saturday October 17, in the Athletic and Wellness center at 1 p.m. the club will host "Chest For Breasts" a walk-a-thon style fundraiser where participants are sponsored by how many benching reps they can perform. All proceeds go to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
No experience is necessary to become a member of the club, and competing is recommended but not enforced to be a member of the club. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining the Powerlifting Club you can email NewPaltzPowerlifting@gmail.com
