ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603070002
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: Community Sports
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
The poster hung in the hallway leading to his office reads "Aim High," and for Capt. Michael Pilkenton of the Air Force ROTC program at Virginia Tech, that means lifting big.
Pilkenton captured the national title in the 181-pound weight class at the Natural Athletic Strength Association Championships Feb. 10 and 11 in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Pilkenton, 33, is at the midway point in this three-year assignment at Tech and has been a member of NASA for nine years. NASA is one of only two drug-free power-lifting associations in the country, he said.
"I've won many state and regional competitions but this is the first open men's division I've won at the national level," he said. "I currently hold all the Virginia and Ohio state records for NASA."
Pilkenton faced about 30 other lifters, not all of whom were in the open division. Some of the competitors were registered in the junior or master divisions, but members of all three groups competed against one another on a point scale.
Each participant is allowed three lifts at bench press, deadlift and squat. The best attempt in each of the three categories is added to reach the final point total. Other factors, such as age, influence the score as well.
The national meet included about 100 lifters competing in the 148, 165, 181 and 198-pound divisions, Pilkenton said.
"I not only won first place in the 181-weight class, I also got the outstanding lifter award for the entire day," he said. "According to the point scale I outlifted all 100 competitors. That's an even bigger honor than winning your weight class."
Pilkenton had one personal best with a 413-pound bench press and tied another with a 634-pound squat. He took aim at a best deadlift of 655 but missed it on his third attempt and settled for a 634.
"One guy tied me with 413 pounds [bench pressing] but I had a lot more on squat," Pilkenton said. "There were also a couple people who outdeadlifted me but the combination of all three lifts put me about 100 pounds above second place."
Influenced by his brother, Pilkenton began lifting in high school.
His experience bolstered his confidence going into the national meet.
"I went there to win," he said. "I've been to half a dozen national competitions so I knew what to expect as far as the environment and the competition."
Pilkenton didn't do much weight lifting while attending the University of Louisville. His first military assignment sent him to Dayton, Ohio, where there was an active power lifting team.
Tech's team of about 12 lifters is similarly active.
He said he plans to skip the state competition in March, but will probably return to action in the Virginia Commonwealth Games this summer.
"There are a few people out there stronger than I am," Pilkenton said, "but it all depends on who shows up."
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines Type first letter of feature OR type help for list of commands FIND S-DB DB OPT SS WRD QUIT QUIT Save options? YES NO GROUP YOU'VE SELECTED: QUIT NO login: cby CNB