HERE'S CHRIS'S POSTING:

Yesterday I won the Bros vs Pros Bench Press at Diamond Gym. I did 225lbs for 54 reps, matching the all time record. Went up against many competitors including IFBB Pro Akim Williams, last years champ Dylan Williamson who flew in from Fl, and a couple huge guys that weighed 370lbs and 400lbs. After having shoulder surgery in March and not being able to lift for most of this year, it's a great feeling to be back in the game. I will be back next time to crush 54 reps. Thanks Frank Cappuccio, Kaan Erpanur, Ron and Kathy Wnek for coming out and to everyone who watched online to support. My lift is at about 46:10 and my win at 1:11:00. (See our Facebook page for the link to the video)

 

Ray Padilla, Kristen Richardson and Kathie White of Whippany Athletic Club competed last weekend at the 2013 USAPL American Open Powerlifting Championships in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Ray placed second in a field of 11 lifters in the Raw 181 Open division with a 507lb squat, a 270lb bench and a 575lb deadlift for a total of 1352lb! Congratulations, Ray! Kristen, lifting in her first meet, placed second among 7 lifters in the Raw 165 Open division with a 242lb squat, a 132lb bench and a 303lb deadlift for a total of 678lb. Great lifting, Kristen! Kathie competed in the Raw 132 Masters 3 (age 60 to 69) division with a 176lb squat, a 126lb bench and a 264lb deadlift for a total of 568lb. Her deadlift and total were new American records for her division! Thanks to coach Southern Mike for his help in preparing for and at the meet.

Member Tom O’Connell has reached base camp on Mt. Everest. His climb for Making Headway Foundation, partially sponsored by Whippany Athletic Club, has been successful. Here’s a picture of him at Mt. Everest base camp wearing his Whippany Athletic Club t-shirt!

Many of you have seen member Tom O’Connell training at the gym for his upcoming climb to basecamp at Mt. Everest.  Tom is requesting contributions for his climb in support of the Making Headway Foundation, which provides care and research for children and their families afflicted by brain and spinal tumors. Whippany Athletic Club has contributed $100 to this effort. To contribute to this important work, please go to https://mkghdwyf.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/FundraisingforMakingHeadway/PersonalFundraiserSignupFundraising/tabid/474496/Default.aspx?joinme=28713

This will be Tom’s third climb for charity.  In 2010, Tom traveled to southern Argentina to climb Mt. Aconcagua, which is the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere.  For that climb, he partnered with a group called Impact a Hero, which provides support for wounded servicemen and women and their families.  At that time the Veterans Administration was refusing to provide moneys to have a Christmas party for injured soldiers & families at Brooks Army Medical Hospital and Walter Reed Hospital.  With the help of folks at Fox & Friends, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Commissioner Tom Von Essen and Jimmie Johnson, they were able to reach a nationwide audience and raise $20,000 for this great cause.  In 2012, he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, outside the capital city Moshi.  Working in conjunction with Claudio Reyna Foundation (CRF, where he serves on the Board of Directors), he raised money for CRF and for Amani House, an orphanage in Moshi.  CRF through the sport of soccer (The Beautiful Game) helps provide inner city children with educational, healthcare and nutritional opportunities.  He personally visited Amani House when he arrived in Africa, along with a duffle bag full of soccer equipment and uniforms as well as much needed funds. Tom said “meeting all those kids and seeing their faces light up when I poured about a half dozen soccer balls onto their field was one of the sweetest memorable moments I’ll ever have.” 

Tom would appreciate any financial support for Making Headway Foundation that you can provide. Please feel free to pass this on to anybody you think may also be able and willing to help in this endeavor.