First I want to thank
everyone who took part in this wonderful Powerlifting experience! The
camaraderie and atmosphere of Unity and Family was like few I have ever
experienced! To the World Class (and World's level) judging crew, the lifters,
spotters and staff I can not say enough complimentary things about you all! I
want to give a special thanks to my co-promoter and friend Stace Beechum of
Gold's Gym of Rainbow City and to my training partner and old friend Chris
Sanford who may as well have been a 3rd promoter as he ran with me on every
inch of pulling this thing together; burning up his own gas and money and
never asking a thing in return. Chris you are a true friend and asset to this
sport! How you competed and won (set an Al. Deadlift record) as tired as you
had to be is just amazing...hat's off to you!
I want to thank our sponsors for the meet: Titan Support Systems Inc. (donated
the beautiful Katana swords for Best lifters), Gadsden Inn and Suites, Gold's
Gym of Rainbow City and McClellan's Family Chiropractics (donated additional
prize money for the Pro Cash division.), DRs. Mike and Leslie McClellan. A
very special thanks to my wife and scorekeeper Pam McKee; the most beautiful
person I've ever known! I also want to thank Garry Frank and the Hardcore guys
again for bringing a monolift and bench and bars all the way from Baton Rouge,
La. and Chris Senese and Robert Wilkerson for bringing Chris' monolift and
bench up from Foley, Al. Also Mike and Beverly for coming all the way from
Texas to judge and Rick Lawrence coming from way down in Tampa, Fl. Again, the
judging was superb!
Now for the meet! The Activity Center of the River Country Campground (RV
resort), the new facility; was awesome! Very large and comfortable! A scenic
setting on the beautiful Coosa River and Lake Gadsden.
Highlights included the return of Kara Bohigian-Smith to the platform! This
time as an ultra-trim 132! With only 1 month of training after a long layoff
with a back injury she benched 325 lbs. at 130 lbs. bodyweight for the #6
bench All-Time at the weight class! I predict the #1 spot will fall this year
for her! Kara and Craig are a great and happy couple! It's written all over
their faces! And 'Stella' is a doll too! Thanks for picking the Alabama for
your comeback! You and Craig are family to us here! Big Jim Hoskinson's huge
1107 squat upping his already top 308 squat in the U.S. this year! Most of you
know the story of him being told he'd probably never walk again after severing
both patella tendons in a horrible accident a few years ago! Inspiring! Big
Robert Wilkerson passing his 3rd squat of the meet to take an 'exhibition'
squat with just belt and knee wraps (wraps not legal for the Raw meet) of 903!
He squatted it solidly but cut it just short! The crowd went wild over it
anyway! A great show of strength!