Powerlifting is a strength sport consisting of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press, and deadlift. A year and a half ago, Julia Underwood, a Junior at Monmouth-Roseville High School, took interest in the sport after growing up surrounded by lifting.
Underwood first competed in Strongman Competitions before finding interest in powerlifting, which is more set in stone as the same three lifts are done at every competition.
The first lift that will ever be completed in a powerlifting competition is a squat and Underwood currently squats around 300 pounds. For bench press, she lifts around 135 pounds and in the deadlift Underwood is shooting to lift 400 pounds.
“I just want to see how far I can go with it. I have been around lifting since I was small, so it was just something I fell into. It was something I just picked up on.”
Competitions are scored by a Wilks scoring algorithm, which is based upon weight, body weight, age, and how much a competitor lifts throughout the day.
