Rec-N-Cru hosts 100 Percent Raw Powerlifting Regional

??A lot has been going on in the world of powerlifting in the Verde Valley.

The Rec-N-Cru powerlifting club of Cottonwood hosted the 100 Percent Raw Powerlifting Federation Southwest Regional Meet on April 6 and 7 at the Cottonwood Recreation Center. While only eight lifters from the Verde Valley competed, 135 total lifters, from California, Colorado, New Mexico and all around the state of Arizona, showed their strength at the meet. That number was up from the 112 lifters at last year’s meet.

Saturday, coined “Monster Women Day,” was dedicated to the women lifters.

“These women are sweet, small women, but when they get on the platform, I swear Godzilla comes out,” said Tim McKeever, the leader of Rec-N-Cru and co-founder of the event. “You’ll see these big guys sitting in the bleachers and see how amazed they are about how strong these pretty and petite women are. And I say, ‘Why are you surprised?’”

Powerlifting is a strength sport that consists of three events: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. Powerlifters of all ages compete at meets based on weight class. They combine the number of pounds they “maxed” at for the three different lifts into their total score. Lifters participating in the meet can compete in the combined powerlifting event or compete in each lift individually. Along with the squat, bench press and deadlift, the standing curl was another lift open to competition.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, April 17, issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.