APRIL 25, 2013
THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.
3B
Photo by Cpl. Kyle McNally
The Stone Bay Bar Benders display their trophies after competing in the Spring military challenge in Newport, N.C., March 28.
Bar Benders lift for Wounded Warriors CPL. KYLE MCNALLY
U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command PAO
A group of Marines at U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command have found a unique outlet from the stresses of daily life, work and the military; one that comes with the lifting of ridiculous amounts of weight. Staff Sgts. Erik Hodge, Diego Corr, Sgt. Thomas Geist and Cpl. Michael Politowicz, collectively known as the Stone Bay Bar Benders, have been powerlifting together for just under a year. They have competed in several tournaments, the most recent March 28 in Newport, N.C., where each of the Bar Benders brought home trophies in the military, police and fire categories of the spring military challenge. The competition was held to raise money for the Hope for the Warriors foundation, a charity that helps wounded warriors and their families through quarterly fundraising events. Geist, a Marine Air Ground Task Force planner at MARSOC, formed the Bar Benders as “a stepping stone” toward a Camp Lejeune powerlifting team he hopes to establish in the future. Ranked 27th in the nation in the 198-pound weight class, Geist began lifting in Iraq in 2008 to condition his body for combat. “Our commanding officer had this thing called ‘one-time strength.’ He didn’t care how much you could bench or curl, only if you could carry your buddy out of a firefight,” Geist said, “So as part of that, I started doing deadlifts.” Now Geist squats 615-pounds, benches 430pounds and deadlifts 550pounds. He holds the squat, bench, deadlift and powerlifting records for the Southern Powerlifting Federation for the military,
police and fire 198-pound weight class. Politowicz’s passion for lifting arose from combat as well, but indirectly. April 5, 2011, the combat engineer stepped on an IED in Sangin, Afghanistan that blasted shrapnel through his forearm, tore the ligaments in his wrist and permanently damaged his neck and spine. After recovering at the Wounded Warrior Battalion he was temporarily assigned to MARSOC, where he met Hodge. “I was required to [conduct physical training] as part of my internship, so I linked up with Staff Sgt. Hodge and started doing his regimen with him,” said Politowicz, “When I started training again, I hadn’t had the use of my arm for over two years.” That didn’t slow him down. Since being injured, Politowicz has completed a sprint triathlon, the Marine Corps marathon, and the Marine Corps trials in shot put and discus, in which he
took 4th place. Despite limited power in his left arm, his best lift so far is a 330-pound bench press. “His transformation from wounded warrior to powerlifter really shows his tenacity,” said Hodge, MARSOC’s force deployment, planning and execution chief, “He’s driven, and he’s committed to improving himself.” Hodge began powerlifting last year and says the sport gives him “an outlet” from the stresses of work. “It’s something I look forward to. There’s actually a lot of therapy to it,” he said. Hodge raised more than $550 for the Hope for the Warriors fund by getting his Masonic lodge to pledge money per pound for each of his lifts. “It’s a good cause,” he said, “It’s important that we help and support our own.” For more information on joining the powerlifting team contact Geist at geisttel@yahoo.com.
Photo by Cpl. Kyle McNally
Sgt. Thomas Geist conducts a deadlift at the spring military challenge powerlifting competition in Newport, N.C., March 28. MARSOC’s Stone Bay Bar Benders competed in the powerlifting contest to help raise money for the Hope for the Warriors foundation, a charity that helps wounded warriors and their families.
Now Accepting New Patients READER’S CHOICE AWARDS Best Dentist in Onslow County
futrellandreesefamilydentistry.com
Whitening Special $
200
Photo by Cpl. Kyle McNally
Staff Sgt Erik Hodge waits for his turn to bench press at the Spring military challenge powerlifting competition in Newport, N.C., March 28.
s Custom Impressions s Whitening Kit s Start seeing results in as few as 3 days
32 Office Park Dr. Jacksonville, NC 910-353-8200
Preferred Provider for
METLIFE,
United Concordia & Delta Dental
From information security to leadership, take command of your future with Boston University’s on-base graduate programs. The MS in Computer Information Systems— now with the option of a graduate certificate in Information Security: ěũũExamine emerging security threats ěũũDevelop secure systems and networks ěũũũComplete coursework in as little as 20 months, alternate weekends or online Certified by the National Security Agency and the Committee on National Security Systems
Additional graduate programs: ě Master of Science in Leadership ě Graduate Certificate in Project Management Classes begin May 4 on MCB Camp Lejeune.
Learn more. Call 910-451-5574 or 252-447-5036 or email lwatson@bu.edu.
bu.edu/military An equal opportunity, affirmative action institution.