Furman powerlifters set world records

Three members of the Furman Powerlifting Club set world records and captured seven medals in the 10th annual World Natural Powerlifting Federation (WNPF) World Championship held October 26-28 at Furman.

Furman graduate student Beau Greer, student Jason Pagan and Health and Science Professor Tony Caterisano competed in the three-day competition with more than 200 other power lifters.

Both Greer and Pagan won two gold medals. Greer won the world title in both the Junior Division and Open Division (all age groups combined) at the 148-pound weight class and set a world record with a bench press of 330 pounds. Pagan won a gold medal in the 181-pound weight class, Junior and Open Divisions, and set a world record with a bench press of 457 pounds.

Greer and Pagan were voted "Lifter of the Meet" for both of their sessions, an award earned by the best lifter of a session across all weight classes. Caterisano took home three medals in the 220-pound Masters Division (age 40 and over) with a bench press of 325 pounds, as well as a bronze in the dead lift with a lift of 430 pounds.

The two resulted in an Iron Man total of 755 pounds, which qualified Caterisano for third place in the Iron Man competition, and a total of three bronze medals.

The three-day event attracted hundreds of spectators for each session. Seven countries were represented.

"There were lifters from all over the world," said Caterisano, "and they were impressed with Furman and wanted to learn more about the university."

Although the United States had the largest number of winners throughout the championship, Ireland, England and Canada performed well also. And, on the women's front The Ephrata Powerlifting Team out of Lancaster, Pa. dominated.

This is the second year that the WNPF has held the world championship in the United States. It was held at Baltimore, Md. last year, and competitors from 10 countries were present.

Unfortunately, recent terrorist activities in the U.S. restricted more countries from entering this year's competition.

The WNPF World Championship includes male and female competitors ranging in age from 14 to 79, and the organization prides itself on drug-free competitions.

According to Caterisano, 25 percent of the competitors are randomly drug tested, compared to other organizations that may have higher weight lifting totals but do not drug test.

--by Aynoka Bender