Weightlifters press the competition

A modest group of strong men from Suffolk and a few from the surrounding area gathered at the East Suffolk Recreation Center’s fitness center Friday evening and put on an impressive show in Suffolk Parks and Recreation’s sixth annual bench press competition.

One competitor was victorious even he as shaking off the rust as a weightlifter, at least one set a new personal record and another tasted victory while specifically relishing the rare opportunity to measure his progress.

Fitness specialist Michael Frickanisce, who organized and ran the event, was pleased to have seven men participate this year, only one off from last year’s turnout.

“Even though we only filled up two weight classes, this is really pretty good participation,” Frickanisce said. “If I get seven or eight, that’s a pretty good group.”

Participants included Suffolk’s Matthew Williams and Steven Major, who competed in the 166- to 198-pound weight class. Each gave credit to his competitor for encouraging him in the weight room.

Before the competition, Williams said, “I’d like to try for 245 (pounds) or something.”

Major ended up taking second after successfully lifting 245, and Jamaris Sanders won by lifting 255.

Frickanisce noted that Sanders did a good job of articulating the value of the bench press competition.

“(Sanders) does all this stuff, works on trying to get his weight right, works on getting his strength right, and other than just for show in the summertime, there’s really nothing to say, ‘Ah, it’s working for me,’” Frickanisce said. “So something like this, he said, really worked for him to show that what he does made a difference.”

Sanders used to play football at James Madison University, “so he always had a way to measure his progress” before, Frickanisce said.

Ron Daire of Suffolk was excited to see his latest bit of progress, which came during the competition when he successfully lifted 235 to place third in the 166-198 class.

“I never did 235 (before),” he said.

“That was a (personal record) for him,” Frickanisce said. “That happens a lot. These guys get in here, and the crowd gets them pumped up, and they kind of get psyched and they get going.”

Daire’s physical development has been substantial since he started going to the East Suffolk Recreation Center steadily about a year ago, a time when he bench pressed around 135.

“For these guys, strength is all about the bench, so that’s what they measure their strength by,” Frickanisce said. “So for him, he’s really proud of how far he’s come, and 235 was huge, really huge.”

Felton Hale of Suffolk ruled the Over 243-pound weight class by lifting 405 pounds.

“I loved it,” Hale said after the competition, even staying later to see how much higher he could go in the 400-pound range.

Formerly a consistent weightlifter, he said, “I just started back.” He estimated his experience in the activity to be five or six years, adding, “I just come in here and mess around.”

His nearest competitor was Merell Ruffin of Virginia Beach, who successfully lifted 340 pounds. Coming in third was Hale’s brother, Junious Hale of Franklin, successfully lifting 320.