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ABOUT: I'm making some changes to the North Carolina page. I think the most interesting question in 100% RAW is, who is #1? You can click on the NC TOP full power, benchers and/or curl to find out who the best is from 2023 and earlier, BUT I want to go a step further. I want to write a little about the top lifters in EACH weight class starting at 105 for the women and 114 for the men. I include the gym name 'if' I know where they train.

ALL-TIME LIST: If a lifter has posted the top lift a lot of times, I will mention their standing on the all-time list. The All-time list combines men and women; it's a small and tough list to make. At the top of the curl, bench and full meet you will see the all-time list in each category,

WOMEN:

(105): There are a lot of young lifters in 100% RAW which makes the 105 class the biggest weight class in North Carolina. In 2023 it was Kylie May of Team JCC who would post the top total and the top bench for the first time in both categories. If Kylie sticks with this sport, she's going to be on the list a LOT more.

In the curl we saw the return of JCC's Ashley Christiansen. Ashley has delt with a lot of adversity, more than any person deserves, BUT she came back and posted the top curl for the sixth time. Ashley is currently tied for third on the all-time curl list.

I have to mention that there are two girls that didn't make the list but are very close. The first is Gracie Bushee who won the world title in the curl this year and second is Gabbi Saunders who won the best lifter youth award at the world championships.

(114): At 114 we had two first-time lifters on the list as teen lifter Kaylum Mills posted the top total EVER at 114. Yessica Lopez would also make the list for the first tie as she posted the top bench. In the curl, Allison Freeman of Fitness Warehouse posted the top lift for the fifth time which puts Allison in a tie for seventh place on all-time list.

(123): Reagan Charlton of Fitness Warehouse captured the open world title at 132. Reagan also took home the top curl in North Carolina at 123. It was Reagan's first at both. Carolyn Le would also make the list for the first time in two categories: bench and powerlifting.

(132): Reagan Charlton wasn't content with one weight class; Reagan also posted the #1 curl at 132. Maybe someday she can post the top curl in four weight classes in the same year like her teammate Allison Freeman. Team JCC's Jennifer Zak had taken a break for competition, but she returned and picked up where she left off. Jen posted the top total for the seventh time (5th place on the all-time list), and Jen posted the top bench for the 8th time (#6 on the all-time list).

(148): The 148 class was interesting as we had a youth lifter who out lifts the adults. Madison Berry of Team JCC would post the top total AND the top bench for the second consecutive year, Madison would also post the top curl for the first time. Things will get challenging as I think Madison is done at 148; at 165 and 181 Madison will be matched up with one of the best lifters in North Carolina, EVER!!!

(165): Mackenzie Grace Taylor of Team JCC JUST turned sixteen; don't let Mackenzie's age fool you, she is unstoppable. Mackenzie posted the top curl for the third time, the top bench for the eighth time and top total for the ninth time. Mackenzie's total was the top total EVER at 165!!!

(181): Mackenzie Part II. As impressive as things sounded at 165, Mackenzie would ALSO compete at 181 where Mackenzie would post the top curl for the fourth time (she's one from being on the all-time list), the top bench for the 9th time which puts her in a tie for second on the all-time list AND Mackenzie would post the top total for the 10th time which puts Mackenzie in a tie for first on the all-time list and all by the age of sixteen. If Mackenzie stays focused, she is going to set a bar so high that the rest of us won't even be able to see it!!!

(181+): I don't know if Gloria Knight-McNeil has ever competed with 100% RAW before, but I do know she competed with many organizations and is truly a legend in this sport. Gloria had a great year in 2023 as she would post the top total in her first try and Gloria would also post the top bench in her first try. Great job Gloria. In the curl it was Demetria Sarafis of Currituck high school who would post the top lift.

MEN:

(114) Jeremiah Skinner of Team JCC is a lifter to be feared as he is very young and yet very strong. Jermiah posted the top total for the first time in 2023. Andrew Schwartz took double honors as he posted the top bench and the top curl for 2023. This was the first time that either lifter made the list.

(123) Fitness Warehouse's John Ammons only does one thing, John wins. John would post the top bench for the sixth time which is one away from qualifying him for the all-time list. John would post the top total for the ninth time which puts John in third place on the all-time list and John would post the top curl for the eleventh time, which puts John in second place on the all-time list. Crazy to think that John is still in his twenties.

(132) Nick Silvio came out of nowhere to dominate the 132 class. Nick posted the top total, the top bench and the top curl. While it was a first for Nick in each category, his lifts were HUGE. Watch out for Nick!!!

(148) Nathanial Thomas used a 400+ pound squats to lead him to the top total for the first time. The top curl went to Currituck's Ethan Binckley who has now made the list three times. As for the bench, Kejajuan Collington would make the list for the first time. How tough was this class. Nathanial's 408 squat was ranked #1 in the world, Kenjajuan's 325 benched was ranked #1 in the world AND Ethan's 157 curl was ranked #1 in the world. As a 148 lifter I'm thinking I'm in the wrong weight class.

(165) Cedric Jernigan is making quite a name for himself. In 2023, Cedric would take home the top total for the third consecutive year and Cedric would post the top bench at 165 for the first time. In the curl, Ethan would take top honors, again, which means Ethan has now been ranked #1 in the curl four times, one more time and Ethan will move into the all-time curl list.

(181) For the second consecutive year, Raymond Chmielinski would post the top total at 181. Two-time top powerlifter, David Sobota didn't win the full meet this time, but he can still be proud as he posted the top bench for the first time. David competes with team JCC. In the curl Ayden Horton would post the top curl for the first time.

(198) In the full meet Justin Schlossberg posted the top total for 2023, in the bench it was Tywann Williams who took top honors. This was the first time for Justin and Tywann on the list. In the curl there is only one question. Will John Cooper compete. John did compete and John took home the top curl for the 16th time!!!

(220) Currituck high school has produced a lot of high-level lifters and the tradition continued in 2023. Colton Greene of Currituck high school would post the top total for the first time. In the bench it was Jasper Adams who would also make the list for the first time. In the curl, as always, John Cooper took top honors. John has now been ranked #1 in North Carolina 17 times which is six more than any lifter in any weight class. Also, seventeen times is more than any lifter in any event. WOW!!!

(242) The 242 class was crazy strong. We can start with Azi Idehenre posting an insane 1,758-pound total which put Azi as the #1 powerlifter in his weight class for the third consecutive year. The only thing that can stop Azi is if he decides to retire. As if that wasn't crazy enough, we also had the LEGEND Michael Dudley bench 529 pounds to take the top bench honors for the ninth time. Michael is now tied for #2 on the all-time list!!! In the curl it was Michael Oliver that took home top honors for the second consecutive year. Michael joined John Cooper in the 200+ curl club!!!!

(275) At 275 it was Justice Gray who would post the top total for the first time ever. In the bench Paul Bossi would post the top bench for the thirteen time which means he's the only person higher than Michael Dudley on the all-time bench list. In the curl it was the always popular George Basnett who would take home the top curl for the first time. George is getting stronger and stronger so watch out if he continues to train.

(275+) In our final weight class Chris Pitts would join John Cooper and Michael Oliver in the 200+ curl club which was enough to earn Chris the top spot for the third consecutive year. In the bench Chris Pitts would also take top honors, also for the third time. I have to save the best for last and by best, I mean the most titles. Daniel Corridean dominated his weight class yet again as Daniel posted the top total for the tenth time. Daniel is #1 out of all the men and tied for #1 with Mackenzie Grace Taylor at the top of the All-Time list. You do not want Daniel in your weight class.

TEENS: For the teens I want to recognize the teens that have made the list three times or more. Making the teen list is TOUGH. The moment a teen gets strong, he or she often ages out of the class.

In powerlifting four teens made the list. For the women, there was only one, but Mackenzie dominated as she made the list for the tenth time. For the men, Ethan Binckley made the list for the fourth time, younger big brother, Elijah Binckley, made the list for the third time and Colton Greene also made the list for the third time. All three teen boys hail from Currituck high school.

In the bench we had one male and one female make the list. For the women, no surprise, Mackenzie Grace Taylor made the list for the ninth time. For the men, not much of a surprise, Ethan Binckley made the list for the fifth time.

In the curl it was a repeat as two lifters made the list. Mackenzie Grace Taylor and Ethan Binckley each made the list for the fifth time.

MASTERS: The masters have a bit of an advantage as old folks can't age out, we can run into other problems, but once a master always a master. With this in consideration, the cut off is five. Also, since there are less masters, there are less weight classes.

In the bench three people made the list with Paul Bossi, Ben Zak and Nasir Nantambu.

In powerlifting the list was smaller, but to the lifters credit it was the winners of the best-looking award as Daniel Corridean and Ben Zak both made the list.

In the curl it was a family affair as three people made the list, and all three are related. Jennifer Zak made the master's list for the sixth time; Ben Zak made the list for the 12th time and then Jen's brother John Cooper destroyed everyone by making the list for the 17th time!!! I've heard John mention retiring, if he does, I'll work until I pass him and then I'll casually, accidently mention it every time I see him.

CONCLUSION: There are sure to be mistakes and I will try to correct them. Thumbs up to everyone who made the list and for those that didn't, there is always next year.