The first WPO sanctioned Bench Bash for Cash held at the Peabody Auditorium was just as exhilarating as the first WPO Pro Powerlifting contest held in the same venue here in Daytona Beach. I have held four other Professional Bench contests that were sanctioned APF, but even though those contests were great, the sheer magnitude of this first WPO Bench contest overshadowed the past. I think that $25,000 in prize money versus $6,000 that was the norm for the previous contests might have played some tiny part in the lifter turnout. The BIG MONEY and the WPO’s uncanny knack to present Powerlifting as an exciting, in your face, extreme sport that showcases the Superhuman Iron Athletes was equally as enticing as the money.

Cream of the Crop is all that comes to mind when looking at the WPO bench press lineup: Ken Patterson, George Halbert, Dave Waterman, Anthony Clark, Rob Fusner, Beau Moore, J.M. Blakley, Tony Conyers, and Germany’s own Markus Schick. If you wanted to bench with the best in world this was the place to be, and if you consider yourself one of the best there was no excuse not to be in Daytona on September 9th. Thirty one lifters in all participated in the event, some of them first timers so intrigued by the possibility of winning money that they had no idea how stiff the competition was. This contest was also filmed for television and will be broadcast on a southeast regional cable network.

I abolished the formula and devised system using a LWT. 132-165 lbs., MWT. 166-220 lbs., and HWT. 220 lbs. and over divisions. The weight class increments for the bench are the same as the Super Open weight class increments for powerlifting. There were five places for cash of the three weight class divisions: 1st, $2,500; 2nd, $1,000; 3rd, $750; 4th, $500; 5th, $250. There were $1,000 cash bonus for breaking world records in traditional weight classes.

As I said earlier, I eliminated the formula because it was getting to be routine with Dave Waterman always being shoe-in to win by formula even if he didn’t have his best day. The new weight class divisions allowed fifteen benchers to win money, instead of only five, by formula, like in the past Bench Bash for Cash meets. Then, in order not punish Dave Waterman for being so strong pound for pound or any other lifter that is untouchable by formula, I did a best bencher out the fifteen money winners by the Reshel formula for $1,000 so there could be a clear cut, best of the best overall winner out the fifteen.

Starting with the light weight division in fifth place the veteran powerlifter, Anthony Conyers, who has always had a healthy bench nailed a solid 402 for $250. The fourth spot went to another household powerlifting legend, Angelo Berardinelli, who has big bench for a lwt. He handled 467 fairly easy, but two of the referees thought he double pumped the bar at lockout. It was very close, and I thought it was a good lift myself though it didn’t matter what I thought, because he still was credited with 424 and $500. Third place went to a first timer, the little big man who has big time potential, Dean Ferrerio. Dean is from Fort Lauderdale and is about as tall as Markus Schick, who is only 4’8” inches tall. He did a smoke show with 429 and 457, but he beat the press signal and 457 was turned down. He beat Angelo by five pounds for the number three spot and $750, a great job Dean. In second place, it was Kent Spires with a strong 435 and a miss at 478 on his third attempt. He was able to secure a $1,000 dollar pay day. Nice job, Kent.

Our number one man at the lwt. spot, who virtually destroyed his competition by over a hundred pounds, was the history making Markus Schick, all the way from Germany. Markus only weighed 152 lbs. and opened with an easy 496, and then he went to 529 which went a little shaky, but he got it and it was a world record. Then it was time for a third attempt, the weight was called “250 kilos,” Russ Barlow said, “on the baaaaarr please,” and I asked Russ how much weight is that in pounds and he said, “551 pounds, Kieran, to re-break his World Record.”

The big crowd, adrenaline pumped from the heavy metal music, the beautiful Huge Iron Dancers and Card Girls, the smoke, and bright lights fell completely silent when they comprehended how much weight they were going to witness a 152 lb. dwarf bench press. When he approached the lifting area, the crowds silence quickly turned back to intense vocalizing in support this amazing little man. Markus eagerly jumped up on the sixteen inch boxes he must have in order to have his feet push up against something solid because his legs are so short. He literally has to have the spotters lift the bar off the bench racks and lower it down to him until he has control of the weight. He wobbled a little bit, regained his composure, and descended down with the weight and I have never seen a little person move 551 so fast in my life, whether be on the squat, bench, or deadlift.

Then he did a fourth attempt with 562 just as effortlessly as 551, and stunned the crowd again. Markus’ World Record, 562, gave him the greatest bench press ever done by Schwartz or Reshel formula in history. You’re the Man, Markus. This massive history making attempt put the little big man in great contention to win best bencher out of the top fifteen money winners which I will elaborate on in the end.

Now on to the awesome and very competitive middleweight division. In fifth place we had Joe Dougherty from Niagara Falls, NY with a big 518 and $250 clams. In fourth place, Rick Lawrence used all three attempts to get in the meet and finally hit 600 fairly easy on his third attempt and won $500. In third place, surprisingly, was Dave Waterman, who was the reigning four time champion. He didn’t have the stellar day that he usually has, taking two attempts to get his 630 (628+ record plates) opener and he missed 655 on his third, but that was enough for $750.

Second went to George Halbert, who did have a stellar day, smoking a 633 first attempt and a solid 650 on his second for a 198 lb. world record and $1,000 cash bonus, and $1,000 for coming in second. Way to go George. He also tried 661 on his third and stalled half way up, but the battle between he and Dave was very exciting. If Dave had asked for 650 plus the record plates like he did on his opener, it might have been the difference, instead of taking the five pound jump and barely missing.

This leaves us with the crowning of our middleweight champion, Kenny Patterson, who holds world records in the 275s, 242s, and now the 220s as well. Ken’s attempts were all smoke shows, annihilating 622, 650, 672, and a fourth attempt of 683 for a 220 world record. Kenny’s accomplishments earned him $2,500 and $1,000 cash bonus for the 220 world record. I am certain in the near future Ken will bench 700 as 220 pounder. You’re awesome, Kenny.

The heavyweight class was a little bit of a surprise; none of the big names had a good day. Anthony Clark, Ryan Desmond, and big Rob Fusner unfortunately bombed out. The number five spot at heavyweight and winner of $250 from Gloucester, Massachusetts, Kenny (the Jackman) Gleason hit a 573. Fourth went to J.M. Blakley from Ohio, who has now relocated to California, and was only able to muster up a 606, failing twice with 705, but he still managed to secure $500.

Big Beau Moore took third and was a little disappointed because he missed his normally easy 661 opener. He re-did his 661, and took 677 on his third, got it half way up, and then all of the sudden the weight popped out of his hands and 677 fell about twelve inches right onto his chest. Thank god Beau is the size of grizzly bear, because he took the whole brunt of 677 across his sternum. When the weight hit Beau, it buckled him and his feet went about three feet above the pad of the bench and he let out a bellow that echoed throughout the whole auditorium. There was nothing the spotters could do; it happened so fast. Remarkably, after the weight was put back in the racks, Beau lay there a few seconds, and then miraculously got up unhurt and was able to come out and accept $750 for coming in third. This kind of thing would have probably killed a lesser man and we are relieved that he was okay.

Texas’ own Tiny Meeker took second, benching 661, and beating Beau Moore on a bodyweight and winning $1,000, great job Tiny. Our number one big man was a virtual unknown from Arcade, NY who was credited with 677, which he did easily, and then he stalled with 688, but that was good enough for $2,500 and first place in the Big Dog class. This is quite an achievement for an unknown to win amongst the best in the world, so congratulations to Travis Rogers.

Last, but not least, our Champion of Champions award went to the history making Markus Schick for his huger than huge 562 at a mind boggling 152 lbs. of bodyweight. For his phenomenal achievement, he cashed in with $2,500 for winning the lightweight class, $1,000 for destroying the 165 world record, and an additional $1,000 for being the best bencher of the fifteen money winners. He scored over 300 points on the formula which no lifter on the bench or a three lift total has ever done. We were very happy for Markus because in the past he has had a couple of disappointing outings where he didn’t do so well, and it was refreshing to see him regain his championship form. Markus, you are the new King of the bench press and deservedly so, proving once again you don’t always have to be big to be a great lifter. Absolutely incredible, Markus.

I would like to thank all the lifters and personnel that helped me with this Huge Iron Production and made it the best bench meet in history. I truly appreciate all the support from the powerlifting world and thank you for all the nice E-mails and letters that the WPO receives every day. I know that many of you realize that this is the only way for the sport to receive the recognition that it rightfully deserves, because we are the strongest athletes in the world.

There are other forces that are trying to compete with me that are cheap imitations of the real deal. I’m working with network for a long term deal that will air WPO lifting for an extensive period of time, and broadcast during prime time, not at 1:00 PM Tuesday afternoon or 3:00 AM. I could already have broadcasted the May 20th WPO contest on a couple of other stations, but I wouldn’t do it because it wasn’t a good deal for the WPO or you the lifter. The WPO’s main goal is for the superior Iron Athletes to be recognized as legitimate professional athletes that will be able to make living from our sacred sport by winning money for performing and through sponsorship. If I had jumped on the first thing that came along, this could not happen. The WPO show is awesome and the networks that have seen clips love it and know it’s good and wanted lots of rights to it. The WPO is mine, and is also trademarked so nobody can have rights to it without my say so. I did this for the lifter’s sake and nobody else’s, so the lifters the only ones who benefit, not some greedy network that will take my idea and profit from it. In closing, I would like to say thanks again for your support, and remember, when it comes top notch premium powerlifting, you’ve seen the rest, now get ready for the best.