Photo By Kathryn Summerhill | The winners from the camp’s weightlifting competition, Nov. 2, 2012. From left to...... read more read more
CAMP SABALU-HARRISON, Afghanistan – Eleven competitors, three events, and one night to find out who could claim the title of the strongest man and the strongest woman on Camp Sabalu-Harrison.
The morale, welfare and recreation organization on the camp held a weightlifting competition, Nov. 2, 2012. Competitors tested their limits of strength with dead lifting, squats and bench press. Each person had three tries on each event to lift as much as they could to become the best.
The event is one of many held on the camp to promote physical fitness and boost troop morale, which is something all deployed troops need.
“It gives me something to look forward to and helps me to focus on a goal in the gym,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Melissa Holtzlander, a paralegal with the Combined Joint Interagency Task Force 435 deployed from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and second place female winner. “Also, it's just fun...competitions are always fun.”
The night was a clear display of friendly competition. Dozens of soldiers, sailors and airmen from the camp gathered to cheer on their buddies and fellow service members in the competition, but competitors cheered on and encouraged each other as well.
“Several of those guys competing were buddies of mine and I wanted to help push them to reach their goals, just as they have helped me reach mine,” explained Army Spc. David Evans, a Dallas native deployed with the 94th Combat Support Hospital. “I know with athletes and competitors, loud environments increase adrenaline, which allows us to perform better and reach those goals we all have inside.”
“It’s not about winning or losing but going out there and having fun,” said Army Staff Sgt. Chris Stacks, a Dallas native deployed with the 94th Combat Support Hospital and the male winner of the competition. “It’s showing everyone there that it is about getting the best lift you can and doing your best, not about putting the other person down, but encouraging them to push themselves.”
Stacks, a personal trainer back in the states, listed his goal for this deployment: to help his fellow service members meet their own personal goals in strength and fitness. He saw the competition as a perfect opportunity for him and his training buddies to showcase their work.
“I felt this was a great way to show them their improvements and it did. They all had personal bests and [it proved] that with hard work comes results,” Stacks said.
For Stacks, his hard work was well-rewarded that night as he took first place out of the eight male contenders. He bench pressed 355 pounds, squatted 545 pounds and dead lifted 585 pounds, the most in each event. Even though he swept the competition, his win wasn’t his focus at the end of the night.
“It felt good to win,” Stacks reflected. “…but the best thing I took from the competition was the smile on all of my buddies’ faces because they had met their goals and lifted more than they ever have. That's what makes it all worth it to me.”
Holtzlander was one of those who met personal goals at the competition, which included dead lifting 325 pounds after the official competition ended. Since her feat was off the record, Holtzlander is anxious for another shot to claim the title of strongest woman on Camp Sabalu-Harrison.
“I'm only here until January, and I really hope there will be another competition before I leave!”
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2012 01:41 |
| Story ID: | 98125 |
| Location: | CAMP SABALU-HARRISON, AF |
| Hometown: | ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MARYLAND, US |
| Hometown: | DALLAS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 522 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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