| WOW! What an awesome bunch of people came out to Tribes Hill for the 2007 CandyAzz Classic. Big thanks to every one of you. There were so many great lifters here. There was an amazing turnout of support from friends, family and spectators. What a great day at the asylum. I want to start by thanking all of our help. It is so hard to get help on the platform. Who can blame people? Working your ass off all day spotting and loading is no picnic, and it will beat the shit out of you. First, Matt "Raw Dog" Richards, this guy came to our place to do one of our meets a while back and he hasn't left since. He's been training in our gym long before we even opened. Once we did open to the public, he purchased the first membership, and has become a valuable part of the gym. Matt spotted and loaded all day long. When I thanked Matt after the meet, he only said what an honor it was to be on the platform all day with so many amazing lifters. What about Teddy Morris, AKA Roadhead? The damn guy just wouldn't get off the platform until it was time to warm up for his bench....and then to work your ass off and still bench 550......what the hell is this guy eating? I want some. Also Jason Drisco and Mike Romeo (getnasty).....thanks to you guys as well. You guys that step up to do the hard stuff are the backbone behind this shit. All of you spotters did a tremendous job. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now onto others who assisted in judging, head table, photos, vids and general to do stuff.... John Bott, it was an honor to have you here. Your judging is beyond reproach. Thanks for your help. Joe & Natalie Ceklovsky, Shawn Lattimer, Megs, Kia, Ashley and Sapling; thanks for all your help as well. Ofcourse my dear sweet Sarah and Kerrigan, they do so much themselves. They really make me so proud. Carl Seeker, my brother from another mother....man I can't imagine a meet without you. Those aren't just words, they come from the heart. Your trophies kick major ass, your judging is on the money and your friendship is something our entire family holds dear. Michelle Barbaccio, my voodoo priestess, I love you girl. You have become an absolutely irreplacable part of the meets. The banners you make, the help you give me. You're the best! My dear friend Scott DePanfilis from Bodytech USA came up once again to cover our event. Thank you Scott, for all you do for this sport. You are simply the best my friend, and we are so thankful that we have met you and that you have become someone that we just can't wait to see again. Tony Monchinski from Musclemag International spent the entire day at the meet and then came out Sunday to take photos and videos of training. He even id some interviewing for an article in an upcoming issue. Thanks Tony. We were really honored that you wanted to cover our place. Inzer Advance Designs sent up a nice package with tee shirts and wraps and some great gift certificates for our lifters. Inzer has got to be the best company out there for supporting the sport of powerlifting. They are very generous with meet promotions. House of Pain Ironwear sent a nice package as well. Here is another company that is always generous with promotions. Always a pleasure seeing Rick and Jason at the Arnold as well. Mike Lambert always makes sure we have plenty of issues of Powerlifting USA to hand out as well. The lifters really appreciate these extra incentives, and we appreciate all of our sponsors. There were so many amazing lifters here for the Classic, we always seem to be so blessed with such a wonderful array of strength levels, from first timers to the most elite, and this meet did not disappoint. The first guys I want to mention are Frank D'Angelo and Jonathan Ludwig. Frank squatted a sweet 685 @ 190 lbs. He took his first bench of 405 out, was on his way back up to a strong lockout and his forearm snapped. Jonathan had already gotten a squat and bench in adn gave up his lifts to go with Frank to the hospital. Frank ad to go into surgery to have his shattered arm repaired. We'll keep Frank in our thoughts and prayers, hoping for a speedy recovery. Jonathan, you are a good man, and quite obviously a good friend. John Bernor...our dear friend John Bernor...what an honor to have such an amazing ambassador of Christ and also of this sport we love so dear compete here at the asylum. John and Nikki Bernor are two of the most amazing people we have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and being around them actually makes you feel closer to God .....I DO NOT use my words loosely. John's lifting was nothing short of spiritual. His squats went 3 for 3 with excellent depth and strength. John went 1110-780-710 for an amazing 2600 total at a bodyweight of 307. This was a huge milestone for the asylum. Our first 1000 lb squat attemp, and WOW...that total! Whew!! Lenny Spero...dear sweet Lenny...always impressive on and off the platform. Lenny sucked down to a skinny 196.2 and totaled 1780 elite witha 725-455-600. You never cease to amaze me Lenny. Thanks for being part of our family. Chase Trusnovec, representing East End Barbell...absolutely beautiful soul. Chase sqatted and amazing 865...what a beautiful squat. He couldn't quite pull off the bench, but did manage a nice 605 pull afterward. Chris Taylor, always impressive, always inspiring. Chris put up an 840 squat. He has had some health issues lately, but absolutely refuses to let anything get him down. Chris Rodgers, CR, dat pirate...thanks for the total CR...you pulled it off...it's all behind you now...time to move on to big numbers now bro. Chris totaled....yes TOTALED 1370 @ 146 lbs. Evan Seftel, good to see you on the platform again Evan. 1670 total (650-405-615) @ 194. Tone Barbaccio...DUDE!!! Great work! Tone has calmed down a lot. He has put some of those pre meet demons to bedand gotten a handle on his mojo. Tone went 905 - 7freaking15 - 635 for a kick ass 2255. This guy has so much more to offer this sport. Jersey Iron well represented. Jules Furniss - thank you for choosing our place for your first full meet. You really have been an interesting addition to our "circle". Your lifts were great. Your squats were right on the money girl.....and you certainly matched them with a great bench and pull. 325-235-330 for a nice 890 total @ 139...great stuff Jules! Dave Kirschen really put his ass on the platform in the squat.....literally...lol! Dave put up a sweet total of 1850 with 750-530-570 @ 183 lbs bodyweight. Jon Rock...all the way from Philadelphia, great lifting with 575 benchand a 605 pull...great 1180 total at 216. Thanks for coming out Jon. It was great to have you here. Dana Shealey! Guys, this chick has had her damn foot severed and she still hobbles up to the platform on crutches. She still insists on being part of the strength performance and WOW...she is the epitome of tenacity. Kathy, Michelle and Bobby...thanks for being here. I am looking forward to some sick stuff from all 3 of you! Keenan "Cricket Fire" Hollingsworth...he and his family traveled over 9 hours from Canada to attend the meet. Keenan is super cool! He totaled 1175 with a 430-315-430. Great guy and great representative of the sport. Thanks so much for coming to the CandyAzz Classic Keenan. You are AWESOME!!! Scott Sceppe, one strong mofo...700 bench @ 198. WILD! How about Teddy "Roadhead" Morris benching 550 after spotting the squat??!!! Damn guy is as freaky as they come....and dead sexy too! Shawn Lattimer, with some heavy stuff on his mind, still manages an impressive 765 bench on the platform! 9 yr old Mike Pariso from Buffalo, NY wowed us all with an awesome 85 lb raw bench. Wes Stanton, always a pleasure to have in the house. Strong and tenacious bencher. Jane "Bad Apple" Stabile, one of the latest Women of Power, showed us all that a woman over 50 can demand respect on the platform. Jane went 355-160-375 for an impressive 890 total @ 163 Masters III. Her handler, Murph was just awesome. You see a lot of guys get a big psych before a lift, maybe a slap on the back or across the face....Murph gives Jane a hug. Great stuff!! Mark "Powerdoc" VanAlstyne...maybe not his best lifting day, but what an honor to have such a phenomenal lifter on our platform. Mark had some trouble making weight, but he got down to 181 and still did things that amaze us all. Mark went 745-475-550 for an awesome 1770 total. Thanks so much for being here Mark. Brad Vargeson, another awesome lifter gracing our platform. Brad wasn't real pleased with his performance, but it didn't stop him from having a good time with us all at the after party. Thanks for being here Brad. You may be an internet ass...lol...but you really are a cool cat! It was great hanging with ya! Dan Lynch, another one of our FI comrades. Dan lifted at 179 lbs, raw. He went 440-300-575 for a nice total of 1315. Great stuff Dan and I sure am glad you could keep yourself injury free for the meet. Thanks again for being here! Speaking of representing FI...freaking Steve Nilsen...He opens with a 550 squat and about sits on the damned floor with it...way too deep. He missed his second lift of 600. I asked him who was wrapping his knees, he replied "I am". "Damn man...how many friends you got here?" I discussed this with Jules and she informed me that he had been being hard assed about this. You gotta hand it to a guy that just walzes into a meet with no handler. Needless to say he smoked 600 on his 3rd attempt. Steve rocks! 600-430-500 for a nasty sweet 1530 total @ 212. Rob Fishbein, my friend, my brother, it sure didn't seem the same without Franz here, but Rob hit the platform with strength and determination. Rob went 725-505-510 for a 1740 total @ 275. You are simply the best Rob. Adam James and Brendon Serritella, both from Albany Strength, represented well in the 220 division; Adam totaling 1845 and Brendon totaling 1635. Good to see them both back on the platform. AZA and Driz, my buds from New Hampshire, great showing guys! Driz benched 460 and pulled an awesome 600. AZA benched 320 and pulled 350 in the 198 Masters III division. Great stuff guys! Anthony McCloskey, an amazing teen lifter from Glen Mills, PA. He and his sister both competed. Anthony did some real impressive stuff. 1770 @ 204...17 yrs old. 730 squat-425 bench and 600 pull....YIKES!!! We had several female lifters in this meet. That is absolutely awesome to see. There are some really strong women out there, and it's always cool to see more competing. So there is my long winded take on the meet. Thanks again to everyone who came out to help, to lift and to spectate. You are all what makes a good meet! You are all the very best!!!!! There were a few things left behind, so if you are missing something, let me know and I'll see if it's here. One of the competitors lost her camera. There were pics from other meets as well as this one. If you found a camera, please let me know, even if so much to email or send the pics off of it so I can get them to her. Thanks for understanding. |
