Jeswin Antony among weightlifters to set records at The Forge event
March 25, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti Kyle Smith, trainer at and co-owner of The Forge Gym, with Harwood senior Jeswin Antony. Photo by Heather Smith
Some local heavy lifters put their skills, strength and training to the test at The Forge Gym in Waterbury Center last weekend for a powerlifting competition that set multiple new records.
Thirteen lifters ages 17 to 77 took part in the All Raw Powerlifting Federation event on Saturday, March 18. Harwood senior Jeswin Antony from Waterbury was among those whose lifts made it to the record board. At age 17 his lifts qualified: squat 165 kg., bench 92.5 kg., deadlift 197.5 kg.
Antony and other local teens train at the gym which hosted this competition for the first time in 2022. For many of these lifters, the March 18 Luck of the Lift event was their first competition, according to gym owners Heather and Kyle Smith.
Others taking part included UVM students, mothers, father and son duo Steve and Brandon Wolf, and 77-year-old grandmother Bonner Brown of South Burlington, who together set a slew of records as well.
In all, 24 Vermont state and national records were broken by 12 full power lifters and one individual dead lifter, according to the results sheet. The participants combined lifted 5,187.5 kg. (11,436.44 lbs.).
The Smiths noted that an enthusiastic, large group of spectators were in attendance, cheering everyone on with supportive community spirit.
All Raw Powerlifting Federation is managed by Jazmin Averbuck with head judge Mike Berby.