2012 NASA High School National Powerlifting Championships
Louisiana Braveheart Powerlifting-Ultimate Team National Champions
Louisiana Braveheart Powerlifting-Equipped Powerlifting National Champions
On March 31, 2012 the Braveheart team traveled to Oklahoma City, OK for the NASA High School Nationals. We drove up with nothing but our lifting gear and a change of clothes but we drove home with a 6 foot trophy so big we couldn't fit it inside the truck. We won the first ever Ultimate Team award given at high school nationals. This award recognizes the best team across all 4 of NASA's categories of Equipped PL, Unequipped PL, Power Sports and Power Press. With only 7 lifters, we defeated teams twice and three times our size by switching in and out of suits and shirts in between attempts and by posting a total in unequipped powerlifting using only our squat openers. Other teams had different lifters for each category but the Braveheart boys did every lift in every category.The focus and attention to detail that this required from the lifters was monumental. But we are warriors and proved it here. Garrett Chandler had the biggest squat and deadlift in the meet, Brown Thompson had a 479 dl and Guice Thompson pulled 292 at 121 bwt and Guice is in the 7th grade! Colin McRae hit an easy 457 squat and Nick Ogletree pulled 402. The Prevot brothers were on fire as Wesley pulled 540 at 170 bwt and Zachary pulled 319 at 148 bwt. This is the meet where these young men became what I have wanted for them and from them since the beginning, CHAMPIONS!
NASA Texas Regional
On November 16 and 17, 2013 Braveheart took a five man team to Dallas for the Nasa Texas Regional Meet. Garrett Chandler, Colin McRae, Brown Thompson, Guice Thompson and Trystan Hernandez represented well, winning the team title for the gym and setting several Nasa National Records. Garrett deadlifted 628 at 217 bwt, Brown looked very strong with a 529 squat that would have been good at 551 in my humble opinion. Colin squatted 435 and Guice squatted 308. Trystan had a 374 squat and took a national record 418 deep into the hole and out but was shaky on the lockout for no lift. All the Braveheart boys squatted LOW and competed like gentleman warriors which they always do.
Guice buries 308 at 137 bodyweight. Wow!
Trystan kills 374 with Braveheart Depth! Do you squat that low? Really?
2013 USAPL Men's Nationals
2013 saw the USAPL Collegiate Nationals and Men's Nationals come to Killeen, TX under the skilled promotion of Johnny Graham. The Braveheart team traveled to Killeen with a team of Braveheart veterans mixed with many new faces. Wesley Prevot and Garrett Chandler were the veterans while Taylor Knox, who we had competed against the last two nationals, was with us for this one. Thank goodness he was on our side this time! Taylor is an amazing lifter. Matthew Harper, who lifted with us in Orlando lifted with us again here after receiving some intense Braveheart training in the last year. Two Louisiana Tech lifters, James Windham and Josue Leon represented us well in the lightweight classes. High school lifters Alex Devine and Donald Treglia lifted very well in their first USAPL national meet. Highlights included Matthew Harper totaling 1775 and receiving an invitation to lift on Team USA at the sub-junior worlds later this year. Another great battle between Wesley and Taylor was fought this year with them as teammates. Wesley totaled 1322 and Taylor beat him on squat and deadlift but couldn't get a bench passed so the last battle goes to Wesley. I was very proud of BOTH of them. Garrett got a 644 deadlift and had 671 over his knees. 700 is in his sights now.
2013 IPF Sub-Junior and Junior Powerlifting Championships
The IPF sub-juniors and juniors came back to the United States this year and were hosted by former IPF president Johnny Graham in Killeen, TX. Matthew Harper was the Braveheart world team lifter this year and did a great job. Matthew lifted in the 120+ kg class and squatted 683, benched 473 and deadlifted 595 for a 1752 total. This brought a silver medal finish in total, bested only by Egor Rezepov of Russia who deadlifted 700 on his way to a 1923 total. Matt worked hard and lifted intensely all day and I was very proud of his effort. He is a very strong young man and we will see much higher totals from him in the future. I also must mention that 2013 marked the end of the Sub-Junior head coaching career of Joe Lewis. Joe has coached this team since its inception in the IPF and is one of the best powerlifting coaches I have ever known. I wish you all the best my friend, you deserve it.
2012 IPF World Junior and Sub-Junior Powerlifting Championships
Garrett Chandler, one the best kids I have ever coached. Strong, smart, respectful, honorable and destined for greatness. 
Have you ever asked, "where are the GOOD teenagers in this country"?
Here is a picture of some of the best.
On August 25, 2012 Garrett Chandler and John Tabarlet traveled to Szczyrk, Poland for the IPF Sub-Junior World Powerlifing Championships. Garrett lifted in the 120kg weight class and finished with a silver medal in the bench press and a bronze medal for total. He squatted 655, benched 402 and deadlifted 551. Both the squat and the bench were pr's which are usually few and far between for a lifter at a world meet. I can say that this trip gave me hope for the future of our country. To watch Garrett and his teammates on the lifting platform struggle and strive for their country was great. But the most inspirational part was watching these kids represent their country outside the meet with dignity and class. I toured Auschwitz-Birkenau with 4 awesome American kids and watched people from all over the world interact with these boys and come away with expressions and comments of praise and affirmation. I needed to be reminded that the future of America is bright. I got that reminder on a powerlifting trip to Poland.
2012 USAPL Men's Nationals
L to R- Old Strength Coach, Garrett Chandler, Cody Kennedy, Antonio Jack, Wesley Prevot, Matthew Harper, Brown Thompson
June 22-24, 2012 took the Braveheart team to Orlando Florida for USAPL Men's Nationals. This meet was special for several reasons. Garrett Chandler qualified for the Sub-Junior World Team to go to Poland, Brown Thompson made the quickest journey from absolute newbie to men's nationals lifter and the cool realtree Braveheart shirts made their first appearance. The most special part of this meet for me was the arrival on the scene of Brown Thompson. Brown lifted in his first USAPL meet in January, went to his second meet in Texas in April and hit the qualifier and then lifted at men's nationals in his third USAPL meet. This kid is a special lifter with attention to detail and concentration to spare. The quickest study I've ever coached and so much promise for the future.
2012 USAPL Louisiana State Powerlifting Championships
On January 14, 2012, the Braveheart Powerlifters won the team title at the USAPL Louisiana State Meet. Lifting for Braveheart were Erin Thomas, Zachary Prevot, Nick Ogletree, Colin McRae, Wesley Prevot, Tatum Peters, Brown Thompson, Garrett Chandler, Andrew Ameen, Suzanne Louque and Pamela Bartz. Some of our lifters met with adversity in this meet but overcame all of it. Second place last year, first place this year. That says it all.
Standing left to right: Erin Thomas, Old Strength Coach, Colin McRae, Nick Ogletree, Garrett Chandler, Tatum Peters, Zachary Prevot, Andrew Ameen, Brown Thompson, Wesley Prevot
Kneeling left to right: Guice Thompson, Pamela Bartz, Suzanne Louque
2011 USAPL Men's Nationals
June 2011 found the Braveheart team in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi for the USAPL Men"s Nationals. This was the first national meet for every member of the team and we were a little nervous. We got the nerves settled and put on our focus and performed like veteran lifters. Garrett Chandler finished 3rd in 242 T2, Wesley Prevot finished 3rd in 165 T2, Colin McRae finished 4th in 165 T2 and Tatum Peters finished 1st in 181 T1. All that added up to a 3rd place team finish. Not bad for a bunch of rookies with open lifters hitting 900 lb squats and 600 benches all around them.
Garrett pulls an EASY 567 at Bay St. Louis
2011 USAPL LOUISIANA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Braveheart Powerlifting traveled to Lafayette for the state meet and had a very good showing. Wesley Prevot, Garret Chandler and Colin McRae all lifted well with Wesley hitting a big 460 deadlift at 158 pounds. A second place finish in our first attempt at this meet shows promise for the future. This team will only get better as they perfect the art of lifting big!
Wesley's 460 pull at 158 bodyweight!
