Powerlifters compete at inaugural Brazos Valley Invitational

Powerlifting is sports' version of the bomb squad. Hours upon hours of intense training culminate in seconds of pure adrenaline.

Athletes from 12 high schools experienced the rush Saturday in the inaugural Brazos Valley Invitational powerlifting meet. Girls and boys ranging from 77 pounds to 350 pounds competed in three disciplines: bench press, squat and deadlift. Competitors made three lifts in each event for a total of nine attempts, almost all lasting less than 10 seconds.

"It's an explosive sport, a series of nine explosions," said coach Robert Jesurun of Bryan High School, which hosted the meet. "It's a lot like drag racing."

The competition resembled a wrestling meet with simultaneous action at three lifting platforms lined up across the floor of the Lamar gymnasium. The middle school gym provided a fitting setting, a snug old building with wooden bleachers on the side to which the lifters faced and a stage with curtains drawn on the other.

Lifters lined up awaiting their turns at the bar, some looking nervous and others confident. Most kept a wary eye on the competitors from their weight class, making quick calculations on how much they needed to lift to move up the leaderboard.

When called to the platform the lifters moved into position, wrapping their chalk-covered hands around the bar and settling into just the right posture for the attempt. Even to the untrained eye some lifts were successful and others were not, but most were in between.

Three judges sat at each platform, one directly in front of the lifter and one on each side. They held small electronic devices connected to a stand with three white light bulbs and three red bulbs. A white light meant the lift was performed correctly, with at least two judges approving for the lift to be deemed successful.

A&M Consolidated junior Madison Becker, competing in the 148-pound class, raised 325 pounds in the deadlift. Like several lifters, Becker shot an anxious glance at the row of lights. When she saw the white lights, Becker bounded off the platform back to her teammates and coaches, where she received cheers and chalk-puffing high-fives.

"It is probably the most exhilarating seconds of your day," said Becker, who spent the previous night playing as a reserve on the Consol girls basketball team. "When you get the white lights it's like a million dollars as my coach would say. When you get the red lights you get really mad at yourself, but it drives you."