National Championships? That’s old news.
 
Following six national championships over the past four years at the USA Powerlifting Collegiate National Championships, three members of LSU’s powerlifting team raised the bar higher than national titles.
 
Junior Kaitlyn Stewart and Seniors Samantha Baker and Reece Verbois traveled to Pilsen, Czech Republic last week to compete in the International Powerlifting Federation’s 28th Junior World Powerlifting Championships, representing Team USA.
 
The friendly face of success greeted them once again.
 
Baker and Stewart pushed Team USA’s women to a third place overall finish among 29 countries by posting third and fifth place finishes in their respective divisions.
 
Baker competed in the 60 kg (132 lb.) weight class and lifted a total of 437.5 pounds among her dead lift, bench press and squat. Stewart earned an impressive 320 pound lift in the 48 kg (105 lb.) for the Americans as well.
 
Although powerlifting involves participation against other teams, the focus of competition falls on the individual.
 
“Powerlifting is all about you,” Baker said. “You’re going to go as far as you want to go.”
 
Verbois earned a respectable seventh place finish among 17 other competitors by lifting 755 pounds in the men’s junior 82.5 kg (181 lb.) division.
 
Powerlifting is comprised of three lifts — the dead lift, the bench press and the squat — no single lift can guarantee a competitor victory.
 
“Powerlifting is one of the most intense sports around that requires the most dedication of any sport I know,” Verbois said. “To be the best, you have to push yourself harder than you ever thought possible and sacrifice things that you like doing.”
 
LSU Powerlifting Coach Mike Godawa has been involved in competitive University sports for almost 35 years, working as a gymnast, gymnastics coach and powerlifiting coach. He recognizes the intense level of commitment needed to yield international awards in powerlifting.
Former LSU students Andre LeBlanc, Nelson Boutte and Pam Bartz also traveled and competed for Team USA, with Boutte and Bartz claiming third and second place finishes in their respective divisions.