Many may have not realized it, but the Special Olympics USA Games recently concluded in Seattle, Washington. Every four years the Games take place, and this year’s iteration kicked off on Monday, July 2nd and ran through Friday, July 6th. Over 4,000 athletes from all 50 states were in attendance, and roughly 10,000 volunteers partook in the multi-sport competition-filled week.
Throughout the week, USA’s top Special Olympics powerlifting athletes faced off in their respective divisions in the hopes of walking away with a gold medal. Similar to other major powerlifting meets, athletes have the opportunity to compete in a single lift, a push/pull event (bench & deadlift), or complete a full power meet.
Check out the video below that highlights why Paula Houston, Director of Healthcare Equity for UW Medicine, on why she volunteered for the Games, along with additional lifting clips.
Women’s Powerlifting Results
Throughout the Games, there were four women’s competitions that took place. Below we’ve included the top three athletes from each division and their respective totals.
Division F01
- Rebecca Casselberry – 216kg
- Madison Madory – 156kg
- Jennifer Goodley – 142kg
Division F02
- Michelle Athenas – 249kg
- Jessica Ripley – 197kg
- Pamela Stevens – 180kg
Division F03
- Elizabeth Hubert – 234kg
- Brittany Smith – 190kg
Division F04
- Amanda Cayton – 328kg
- Jody Davis – 310kg
- Joni Talavera – 260kg
Men’s Powerlifting Results
For the male athletes, there were 12 divisions that included all three lifts, and below you’ll find the top three athletes from each division with their totals.
Division M01
- Charles Lofton – 232kg
- Mike Van Zee – 209kg
- Jonathan Fisher – 135kg
Division M02
- Charles Piantieri – 348kg
- James Harmon – 303kg
- David Hall – 295kg
Division M03
- Jesse Wims – 303kg
- Cameron Dittmar – 238kg
- Andrew Stryzkalski – 145kg
Division M04
- Mitchell Betsworth – 433kg
- Micah Forrest – 380kg
- Thomas Southard – 260kg
Division M05
- Tristen Bresnahan – 438kg
- Charles Phillips – 413kg
- Rodnel Turner – 405kg
Division M06
- Adam Pelkey – 443kg
- Brian Beirne – 380kg
- Mark Denardo – 340kg
Division M07
- Caleb Cain – 443kg
- Chandler Krahn – 388kg
- Kelby Woolf – 290kg
Division M08
- Joseph Morrill – 400kg
- Aaron Fournier – 383kg
Division M09
- Sylvester Vermillon II – 490kg
- Dean Hall – 485kg
- Kenneth Long – 308kg
Division M10
- Brandon Mize – 565kg
- Seth Hanchey – 498kg
- Zues DeVose – 470kg
Division M14
- Wyatt Bader – 403kg
- Lorn Mangrobang – 335kg
- Brian Pittman – 313kg
Division M17
- Steven Kryspin – 558kg
- Anthony Borreggine – 365kg
- Mark Schuster – 365kg
Featured image from @jymadventures Instagram page.
