THE (2025) OBX OPEN:   As always thank you to the world's best meet director Gene Berry and to the Jarvisburg Church of Christ for creating a wonderful venue for our litters to compete in.  Also, as always, I want to talk about the top overall lifters in EACH weight class, but a HUGE thank you to all the lifters who competed.  

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     (105 AND UNDER):  Karen Poyner is a national and world champion lifter, so it was an honor to have her compete at the OBX Open.  No surprise that Karen would take home the 105 and under bench title.  In the curl it was a class of one, but I'm telling you, watch out for five-year-old Jaylnn Berge who put a big girl for a young girl.  Jaylnn was a definite fan favorite!!!  

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     (123):  State, national and world champion Allison Freeman literally owns the 114 and 123 class in North Carolina.  Allison will be at the state championships AND I'd recommend choosing any weight class, but hers.  At the OBX Open Allison chose the 123 class where she won her first powerlifting, her first bench AND her third curl title.  Perfect day for Allison.

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     (132):  Jeremiah Skinner is fresh off winning the national title at 132.  An injury (this kid is always falling off something) limited Jeremiah to the bench and curl BUT thumbs up to Jeremiah who would take home his first OBX curl title and his fourth bench title.  Not bad for being hurt, right.

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     (148):  Jordan Morin is a new face, but he put up big numbers at the OBX Open which earned Jordan his first powerlifting title.  The Green Lantern (if you know you know) would take home his eighth OBX bench title AND he would take home is 11th OBX Curl title.    

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​    (165):  John Permelia is ALWAYS one of my favorite lifters, he actually drives a long way to train with us when time allows.  How did John do?  Well John would take home his third consecutive bench title AND John would take home his third consecutive powerlifting title.  Winning the curl was Carson Mosier.  Carson had a big curl, and I think he's just getting started in this event!!!

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     (181):  Biggest class of the day was 181, but in the end, it was Da'Merion Lewis who would take home his first powerlifting and his first bench title.  In the curl it was over before it started as NOBODY is going to beat Bryan Ruskin, even on a tough day for Bryan in the curl.  

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     (198):  Another favorite lifter of mine as well as training partner is Dalton Fazio.  This kid just works so freaking hard when he's in the gym and he won't leave any reps on the table.  On Saturday it paid off as Dalton took home his first OBX powerlifting and his first bench title.  Dalton almost always wins his age group, but he's like me, we want to post the top lift REGARDLESS of age group.  If Dalton sticks with this sport as an adult, watch out!!!  

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     (220):  The MVP for potential has to be Kayden "Bubby" Smith.  Bubby started with a 314-pound deadlift, easy, 402-pound deadlift, easy, 452 just as easy.  Did Bubby have 500 in him?  Should mention that Bubby squatted a teen world record 453 pound as well.  My point, Bubby dominated the 220-weight class AND it could be just the beginning for this young man.  Thumbs up to Wesam Mahmoud who would bring home his first OBX curl title.  Wesam also put up a big bench and powerlifting total.  Finally, and well deserved, Gene Berry looked ready to take his foot off the gas on his third attempt on the bench, BUT he decided to go heavy, and it paid off.  Gene would hit his final bench which would earn Gene his second OBX bench title.  

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     (242): Bernie Rhodes is elusive come picture time, BUT we did get a picture of two of him.  Bernie had a solid day as he brought home his second OBX bench title and his first OBX curl title.

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     (SHW):  Eric Lawson had a great day to close out the lifting session.  Eric would win his first curl and his first bench title.

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     (WOMEN): We have less women than men, so to keep things competitive I give a shout out to the top '4' women by K formula (thank you Ed for your help on this).  The number one shout out goes to Madison Berry who would make the list for the third time in the bench and the fourth time in both the full meet and the curl!!!  A big thumbs up to Allison Freeman who would make the list for the second time in the curl and the first time in the bench and powerlifting.  My third big shout goes to Nancy Breen who made the list for the second time in powerlifting.  First time placers were Michelle Woods in powerlifting, Karen Poyner and Savannah Glanville in the bench and Jaylynn Berge in the curl.  Great job ladies!!!  

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     (Masters V/S Teens):  At the OBX Open we have a huge competition between the teens (19 and under) and masters (35+).  The masters have dominated with 9 wins to one loss, but this year the teens were loaded so it was going to be tough.

     The meet started with Madison Berry, Savannah Glanville and Jeremiah Skinner scoring three points for the teens, while the master's only point came from Allison Freeman.  Down (3-1) Ben Zak and John Permelia would strike back for the master's to even the score (3-3).  With four weight classes left, Dalton Fazio and Kayden Smith would put the teens ahead (5-3), but lifting legends Gene Berry and Bernie Rhodes would win the next two weight classes which meant that for the first time EVER, the teen v/s master challenge ended in a (5-5) tie.  Paul Bossi was injured, but I remember telling Paul to bench the bar as we didn't have any teens in his weight class, if Paul had listened the master's would have won (6-5).  Old people and their back's right Paul Bossi???  2026, we will have a rematch and the masters will once again dominate. ​​

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