Slated for this Saturday, May 21, at Gold’s Gym in Hollister,
the Hollister Powerlifting Championships will act not only as a
lifting event, which will include competitions in deadlift, bench
press and squats, but also a fundraiser with all the proceeds
raised going to the Baler Backers Athletic Organization, a 501 c(3)
nonprofit that benefits the San Benito High School Athletic
Department.
HOLLISTER
Ray Perez called it a win-win.
After all, the Hollister resident already competes in powerlifting competitions, already trains as a powerlifter. So when he first thought of the idea of hosting a sanctioned event locally, with all the proceeds going back to the high school’s sports programs, there was no way anyone could lose.
“I do powerlifting anyway, and I’d always thought of doing a meet and it was going to be through a sanctioned [body] that I lift for,” Perez said recently. “So why not do it this way? Put the money back into the kids …”
And so, the Hollister Powerlifting Championships was born.
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Slated for this Saturday, May 21, at Gold’s Gym in Hollister, the Powerlifting Championships will act not only as a lifting event, which will include competitions in deadlift, bench press and squats, but also a fundraiser with all the proceeds raised going to the Baler Backers Athletic Organization, a 501 c(3) nonprofit that benefits the San Benito High School Athletic Department.
“People from all over are gonna do this,” Perez said. “It’s a win-win. They want to lift. They do it anyway, they do it as a hobby, and then the money goes into the Baler Backer account.
“It’s not just a fundraiser. It’s an event.”
Perez was on the San Benito High campus recently, conducting an instructional how-to on proper technique during Chris Cameron’s weightlifting class. Along with fellow lifter Hunter Cuneo, the two provided a rules demonstration while also breaking down the three competitions — squats, bench press and deadlift.
“Today was kind of for the kids on the fence. The ones who are kind of thinking of it or might think they’re not gonna take first place, and thinking why should I do it if I’m not gonna take first place,” Perez said. “We just came and threw the rules out there, make it look a little easier … because it really is. It’s not a hard thing, especially for these kids who have been in the gym all year long.
“Why not challenge themselves at the end of the year?”
Saturday’s Powerlifting Championships will be open to anyone ages 14 and up, and is also a “raw” competition, meaning no gear will be allowed.
“It’s gonna be a good function,” Perez said. “It’s gonna be a full day.”
Weigh-ins will last from 6 to 8 a.m., with the squats set to begin at 9 a.m. The event will be broken down into brackets between men and women and weight class, and will include divisions from the junior levels to the masters.
Individuals can compete in one division or all three, while trophies will be awarded to first, second and third place in each division and weight class.
For teenagers, the pre-registration entry fee is $20 for each event, $30 for each on the day of the event. For adults, the pre-registration fee is $30 for each event, $40 for each on the day of the event.
Additionally, competition T-shirts are $15 during pre-registration and $20 on the day of the event.
“I encourage anybody who’s ever thought about powerlifting or wanted to challenge themselves to go out for it, especially the high school kids,” Perez said. “It’s for them. And I’m hoping we get a large amount of kids going out there.”
There is a cover charge of $5, while kids 12 and under are free. Entry forms can be picked up at Gold’s Gym in Hollister, located at 1525 Cushman Street. For more information about the event, contact Ray Perez at 673-0101, or email at:
Bi*******@ho*****.com
