10/30/2025
First single-ply and tested 800 and 900 pound bench press 💪💪💪 Bill Gillespie was pushing me hard for that title. I would hit 744 and miss two shots at 803 and then Bill hit 749, 761, 782, and miss 800. And then the following weekend I hit 765, miss 800.5 two times, before nailing it on my 4th attempt. The following month, I go lift at the USAPL Rage-X Houston Qualifier and I would go break the USAPL National Record hitting 744 and missing 766.1 (tested again, passed), then 2 months later go to the USAPL Bench Press Nationals. My shirt would explode on my 766.1, borrow a shirt from my training partner and not touch 766.1 on my second, and on my 3rd hit 804.7 (GOT RACK COMMAND) but was turned down for a BU****IT CALL (TOUCHED TOO LOW). GOT TESTED AGAIN AND PASSED (YES, I BOMBED AND WAS TESTED). I can honestly say in my lifting career. I NEVER EVER FAILED A TEST. ALWAYS PASSED
I was almost 100% of the time getting tested if it was a tested meet. And it did not matter if I made a lift or not, they were going to test me. All good, because I was never scared or worried to get tested. Think what you want. Unlike Armstrong, I always showed up for testing.
I never ran or hid from a test. Back then I lifted almost ever month or other month. Going to meets was my training. I could feel more than 855 in the gym, so I would constantly do meets to feel more as often as possible.
About a year later I would meet my new sponsor, Randy Rischer.
He would buy me my first 1000 weight set and custom bench. And then I would start working into a new Double-ply. Still competing in Single-ply, but in training it was DOUBLE-PLY. I was feeling much bigger weight in the Double. Building up for the BIG SURPRISE 😮 💪💪💪🤣🤣
