IronDawgs take home bench press title

ATHENS -- The bench press only division of the Georgia IronDawgs Powerlifting Team is three for three this year after claiming the team bench press title at the American Powerlifting Committee’s ninth annual America’s Cup Powerlifting and Bench Press Championships on Saturday in Athens.

Gainesville resident Tim “T” Moon was a member of all three squads, He capped his day Saturday with a new equipped Master’s Men’s 46-49 year old 125 kilo gram (275.575 pound) class World Record with a lift of 290 kg. (639.334 pounds) on his 3rd attempt after missing his first two tries at that weight. He’d weighed in Saturday at less than 260 pounds. For Moon, it was a relief to get in a valid lift in order to stay in the meet, while at the same time getting another World United Amateur Powerlifting World Record to his credit. He’d set one in a lighter weight class just last year.

“It gives the other guys something to shoot at now,” he said. Moon was granted a fourth attempt in order to better his own record, but couldn’t get it Saturday. His efforts were still good enough for the world mark as well as the Men’s Best Lifter trophy in the bench-only class.

Also helping the IronDawgs to the title Saturday was Oakwood resident R. Garry Glenn. Lifting in his first equipped meet since hip surgery in late March, Glenn got his second attempt at 172.5 kg. (380.2935 pounds) to equal his meet personal best in taking the Cup title in the MM’s 55-59 year old 90 kg. (198.414-pound) class.

“Apparently, I’m really rusty in lifting equipped,” said Glenn, who’d weighed in just under 195 pounds Friday. “I wasn’t happy at not being able to better my PR in this one; but I guess I’m lucky to get that second lift in, period. I just missed my third attempt and they let me try 183 kg. (403.4418 pounds) on a fourth to try and break the American record. I got it about halfway or so and I was out of gas -- my worst press of the day. Maybe by next time I’ll have this (bench press) shirt re-figured out.”

Both Glenn and Moon are graduates of Jefferson High: Glenn in 1972 and Moon in 1982.

Veteran lifter Andy Williamson of Winterville was on this squad and benched 200 kg. (440.92 pounds); to win the MM’s 45-49 100 kg. (220.46 pounds)

Williamson and Glenn were also on the APC bench-only championship team in June.

IronDawg Tony Braswell of Eastman lifted in the full-power class and finished second in the Men’s 125 kg. Open Class with his total of 832.5 kg. (1,869.795 pounds) in the three lifts: squat, bench, and dead lift.

The Georgia IronDawgs is a powerlifting team headquartered at the Ironbeast Barbell Gym in Gainesville. The gym will host a bench-only meet Saturday, Oct. 23. Details are on the APC website.