In the 165-pound class, he bench presses 230 pounds
Local powerlifter Mark Salandra competed and won his division in the USAPL Powerlifting Championships held at the University of Scranton (Pa.) on Saturday.
Salandra competed in the Masters Division’s 165-pound class and bench pressed 230 pounds to place Salandra in the top 15 in the nation in his division and weight class.
Salandra, who won the USA Powerlifting Championships in March, started training for this contest in September and lost 7 pounds in one month to weigh in at 164.2 to make weight.
”In the masters division it is more about staying in shape and keeping your body as strong as possible, no matter who you are or what age you are it is important to follow a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
This is Salandra’s 31st year competing in powerlifting. Besides competing Salandra’s gym annually hosts the New Jersey High School Powerlifting Championships, which will be held June 8, 2014.
Salandra partners with Coach Jim McFarland, the strength coach at Hillsborough High School, to put on this contest every year.
”I think the contest is a great way to introduce high school children to the sport of strength training and Coach McFarland does a great job getting our high school athletes ready for the contest every year” Salandra said.
Salandra is also the owner of StrengthCondition.com, which is a strength training program that is licensed to physical therapist around the United States. StrengthCondition.com local program is run out of Belle Mead Physical Therapy, next to Hillsborough High School.
”Combining physical therapy rehab with a post-rehab strength training program will help our youth stay healthy and safe in their day-to-day sports. They work perfect together,” Salandra said.
He has written a book called “Strength and Conditioning for All Ages,” which can be found on Amazon.com and provides a step-by-step education on staying strong no matter how old you are.