Special Olympic Powerlifters Show Talent

The Douglas County Special Olympics Warriors Powerlifting Team traveled to Summerdale, AL for the USAPL Alabama State Powerlifting Championships, held Feb. 25 and 26.Joshua Sprouse, in only his second year lifting, won first place in his weight class for the Special Olympics and Open Raw divisions. Peter O’Leary, achieving a Personal Record with 200 pounds on Bench Press, also came in first place in his weight class for the Special Olympics and Open Raw divisions. Peter is an Inaugural Member of the Warriors Powerlifting Team.

Moe Rucker, with this event being his first competition, came in fourth place in his weight class. He achieved 300 pounds in Dead Lift. Shannon Haynes, another first year lifter, came third in the Open Raw division overall, and won first place in the Special Olympics division. Shannon lifted incredible weights, accomplishing Personal Records in both the Bench Press, with 205 pounds, and also in Dead Lift, with a weight of 280 pounds Robbie Smith, a third year competitor with the Warriors, pushed out the competition by placing first in both the Open Raw and Special Olympics divisions. He lifted an easy 365 pounds in Dead Lift for a new Personal Record.

After a few weeks of additional training, the Warriors traveled to Maryville, TN to compete in the 2012 Tennessee Power Partners Competition and State Championships. This competition paired Unified Partners, athletes without disabilities, with Special Olympics athletes during competition for combined total scoring. The Warriors Powerlifting Team entered one Unified Team, Brennen Knight and Peter O’Leary, along with four individual athletes. Joshua Sprouse had a great day of competition by placing first in the Open Raw and Special Olympics divisions. He had Personal Records in Bench Press with 203 pounds and Dead Lift with 303 pounds. Robbie Smith was awarded first place in his weight class in the Open Raw and Special Olympics divisions. Robbie achieved an incredible Personal Record of 369 pounds on Dead Lift. Special Olympics athlete, Peter O’Leary, and Unified Partner, Brennen Knight, came in first place overall in the Open Raw and Special Olympics Power Partners divisions. Peter achieved a Personal Record of 297 pounds in Dead Lift. Brennen Knight also earned Personal Records in Bench Press, with a lift of 303 pounds, and Dead Lift, with 501 pounds. Brennen also competed in the USAPL Open Raw division and achieved an unofficial Squat Personal Record of 501 pounds. Moe Rucker, in only his second ever competition, came home to Georgia with Gold medals for the Open Raw and Special Olympics divisions. Moe pressed 198 pounds in Bench Press and easily lifted 314 pounds in the Dead Lift. Shannon Haynes, also a first year lifter in his second competition, was awarded first place in the Open Raw and Special Olympics divisions for his weight class. Shannon pulled 297 pounds on Dead Lift, the highest lift in his weight class for the day’s competition. The Maryville competition was a Gold medal “clean sweep”! Both the Alabama and Tennessee events were sanctioned competitions under USA Powerlifting.

Douglas County Warriors Powerlifting Team would like to extend their appreciation to their coaches, Mitchell Barnes, Keith Dinning, Brennen Knight, and Rob Boatman for their steadfast dedication to the team. The team is supported by the Douglas County Special Olympics Therapeutic Board and . The Warriors would also like to thank KnuckleUp Fitness for the use of their elite training facility, constant commitment, and the staff and members’ beliefs in the abilities of all of the Special Olympics athletes.