BonnerSprings.com

Bonner Springs High School powerlifter Clarence Forshey III has a national championship and a state record to add to his resume.

Forshey competed July 25-27 in the first-ever USAPL Raw Powerlifting Nationals in St. Louis. Participating in the 14-15 age division, 181-pound weight class, he placed first with a 341-pound squat, 281-pound bench press and a 457-pound dead lift for a three-lift total of 1,080 pounds. The totals are Kansas state records for this age division.

Forshey said he was happy with his victory after being frustrated at another national meet in April in Michigan. That competition was separated by grade rather than age. This stipulation forced him to compete as a sophomore against boys that were older than him. He finished third at that meet.

In St. Louis, combined lift of 1,080 pounds was enough to beat competitors who were 18 or 19 years old.

"I was pretty happy with that," he said. "It was nice to beat some grown men - that's pretty good for a still-growing 15-year-old."

Forshey says his best lift is the bench press, in which he recently eclipsed the 305-pound mark.

"I am really confident when I am benching," Forshey said. "We get three tries for each lift and for benching I put up a good amount on my first two lifts, then I can just try to go for a really big amount on the third try."

He's not too shabby at the dead-lift portion of powerlifting either. He holds the BSHS record for his age group. Forshey credits much of his success to coach Justin Howe, who brought the powerlifting program to BSHS two years ago.

"I wouldn't be nearly as strong as I am if it weren't for coach," Forshey said. "He comes up with great workouts that stress proper technique, and he really pushes me, but at the same time he encourages me too."

Forshey's father, Clarence Forshey II, said he was not really sure where his son got the ability, but he knows he did not get it from him. The younger Forshey credits his older brother Greg Forshey, who graduated from BSHS in 2002, with getting him interested in lifting weights.

"I like lifting weights; it helps me stay in top physical condition," Clarence Forshey III said. "I also like to run, keep a mixture going."

Now the junior will turn his attention to playing offensive line and linebacker for the BSHS football team this fall.