Stanislaus State held its 3rd annual deadlift competition at the university fitness center after a two year long hiatus due to COVID-19. The event gave students a chance to show off their skills and compete against their peers. 

Deadlifting is a way for many people to test their strength and train  lower body muscles. It can help with posture, form, grip and core stability. 

The competition was spread out over two days, Wednesday May 11 and Friday May 13, to make sure all students interested had an opportunity to enter the competition. While quite a few competitors entered on Wednesday, a majority of the competitors entered on Friday.

For some students this was their first time entering while others are returning competitors attempting to beat out their own previous scores. The winner receives their own custom Rogue Nylon lifting belt with the runner ups to receive special prizes as well. 

When entering the competition students were first asked to write down required personal information and then track their weight. How much they lift is divided by their relative body weight which determines a competitor’s strength in the competition. 

Every competitor had three attempts to lift. The lifter must face the front of the platform with the bar horizontally in front of their feet. When lifting, their knees should be locked and shoulders should be back. A deadlifting belt may be worn to ensure the lifter’s core is engaged throughout the entire lift, but no wrist straps were allowed as they can help in lifting the bar itself and lighten the load for them. 

Once a competitor has made their attempt, the referee signals them on when they can bring down the bar. The referee will give this signal once the lifter is motionless and in proper position. After each attempt, the lifter can only add weight, but no weight can be removed. 

The competition has tested the strength of many students over the years with competitor numbers increasing annually. In the men’s division, the heaviest weight ever lifted has been 525 pounds and the women’s division was 315 pounds. 

Although this competition is a test of strength, many students enter to see if their performance has improved compared to previous years. Coach Joshua Levesque encouraged students to make a fourth attempt (although it was not officially recorded) to see if they could beat their personal records. 

“The goal is to have students push themselves and have people competing against themselves and hopefully they come back in the future and continue to get a better number and even better numbers,” explained Levesque.  

Overall, the goal of the competition isn’t about what the heaviest weight lifted is, but to push the competitors to their limit. The goal is for them to max out and beat their own personal records, even if they don’t beat out everyone else. 

Winners will be contacted and announced on the Stan State Campus Recreation Instagram at @campus_recreation.