Limestone Barbell Club Has Impressive Showing In S.C. State Championships

Limestone University’s Barbell Club recently competed at the USA Powerlifting South Carolina State Championships in Summerville.

A total of three Limestone students competed in the Junior (20-23 years old) and Open Divisions of the competition, with two earning first place finishes.                            

Alex Register, a senior from Elgin, SC, competed in the 120 kg. (264 lbs.) weight class and earned first place in the Junior Division with lifts of 217.5 kg. (479 lbs.) in the squat, 157.5 kg. (347 lbs.) in the bench press, and 220 kg. (485 lbs.) in the squat for 595 kg. (1,311 lbs.) total. That was an increase of 25 kg. (55 lbs.) over his most recent competition earlier in the fall semester. With that showing, he solidified his qualifying position for the Collegiate National Championships in 2021.

Jaylan Ferguson, a sophomore from Spartanburg, placed second in the Junior Division and third in the Open Division of the 105 kg. (231 lbs.) weight class with lifts of 210 kg. (463 lbs.) in the squat, 117.5 kg. (259 lbs.) in the bench press, and 235 kg. (518 lbs.) in the deadlift. His 562.5 kg. (1,240 lbs.) total is a 45 kg. (99 lbs.) increase from his most recent competition results.

Competing for the first time, Nathan Burgess, a junior from Pendleton, SC, placed second in the Open Division and first in the Junior Division of the 120+ kg. (264+ lbs.) weight class. His 460 kg. (1,014 lbs.) total consisted of a 167.5 kg. (369 lbs.) squat, a 107.5 kg. (237 lbs.) bench press, and a 185 kg. (407 lbs.) deadlift.

Earlier in the semester, Register and Ferguson competed in Columbia at the USA Powerlifting Palmetto Classic.

Competing in the Junior and Open Divisions of that event, Register placed first in the 120 kg (264 lbs.) class, which qualified him to compete at the USA Powerlifting University National Championships in April 2021 in Baton Rouge, LA. Ferguson placed second in the Junior Division and third in the Open Division in the 105 kg (231 lbs.) class.

All students in Limestone’s Barbell Club are coached by Adam Blalock who is the sponsor of the club. The barbell club has been competing regularly in powerlifting and weightlifting since 2014 and is now supported by intramurals.

USAPL is affiliated with the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF), the oldest and most respected Powerlifting organization in the World. The IPF has strict and enforced guidelines regarding technical performance and drug testing.

(Accompanying photo, left to right: Jaylon Ferguson, Alex Register, Coach Adam Blalock, and Nathan Burgess).