Yelm High School senior Landen Barger displayed his strength at a recent league powerlifting meet on Saturday, Jan. 13. Totalling 1,345 pounds, the future Montana Tech Oredigger placed first overall in his respective weight class.
Barger’s combined weights of 305 pounds on the bench press, a 505-pound squat and a 535-pound deadlift led the former Yelm defensive tackle and offensive lineman to first place at the meet.
“My daily workout consists of squatting, benching and deadlifting daily and then getting into our more meticulous lifts,” Barger said. “My goals for this powerlifting season are to win state by a 100-pound gap or more and take all four records.”
Thomas Hoghaug, Yelm’s powerlifting coach, described Barger as the spark for creating the team at Yelm.
“There was always interest in powerlifting, but it wasn’t until Landen started competing by himself that I thought we could have a club team,” Hoghaug said. “Then last year he lost state on the last lift, deadlift. I then wanted to help him and the school start a program.”
One of his many teammates on the YHS powerlifting team is his brother, eighth grader Kaynen, who currently attends Ridgeline Middle School. Kaynen, often referred to as Tootsie, said his brother has taught him how to be faster, stronger and better at everything he does. The two brothers have expanded their bond through the sport of powerlifting, they each said.
At the meet, Tootsie totaled 795 pounds behind a 145-pound bench press, a 315-pound deadlift and a 335-pound squat. The Bargers entered the competition as individuals after the YHS team’s transportation was canceled due to snow.
“Lifting has made me closer with my brother because it’s something we both enjoy a lot,” Tootsie said. “It has made us closer because we are spending more time together, and he makes lifting fun. It makes us bond more.”
Landen Barger said training with his brother is a “different experience.”
“We’re both like-minded people, and we both know we’re there to get work done. This sport has definitely brought me and Tootsie together. We are both extremely competitive people, and so being in a sport that we go against each other in has made our bond stronger.”
Like powerlifting, Tootsie also trains with his brother in different technique-based football drills and competitions. He said he always wants to beat his older brother in every drill. Aside from beating Landen in football drills, Tootsie’s powerlifting goals for this season include reaching 455 pounds on squat, 195 on bench press and 450 pounds on deadlift for a total of 1,100 pounds.
YHS’s next powerlifting competition will take place on Feb. 3 at Shelton High School. Hoghaug said the team will bring around 15 boys and three to five girls to the competition.
“It should be a great show out for us at Yelm,” Hoghaug said.
