THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, May 7, 1995                    TAG: 9505050256
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST           PAGE: 38   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER 
        CORRESPONDENT  
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY                     LENGTH: Medium:   53 lines

RIVERWIND TEAM LIFTS ITSELF ABOVE THE COMPETITION THE TEAM'S EIGHT MEMBERS ARE WORKING TO ATTAIN THEIR PERSONAL GOALS, NOT TROPHIES.

A first-place trophy sits on a table at Riverwind III health club which the Riverwind Powerlifting Team recently won at a Natural Athletic Strength Association (NASA) state competition in Burlington.

But according to those on the team, the attainment of personal goals is more important than the actual piece of metal.

Leading the way in the Burlington meet was Joe Saunders who took first place in the Masters II and Masters III competition. He squatted 451.6 pounds, bench pressed 319.5 pounds and deadlifted 435.2 pounds.

In the women's competition, Mona Gilbert took first place in the 198 pound Submasters division with a 248 pound squat, a 176.2 pound bench, and a 281 pound deadlift.

Others who competed included Tom Raymond, second in the Masters; Jimmy Baun, second in the Pure Novice Division in his first meet; Carl Elliott, second in the Juniors; Hal Wiggins, third in the 198 pound Pure Novice division; Ben Zak, first place in the 132 pound Pure division and the 132 pound Natural division; and Jeff Faison, a 15-year-old, who took first in the 123 pound High School division and 123 pound Junior class.

According to Gilbert, who is the unofficial coordinator of the group, the team competes in two to three meets a year. Over the past two years they have supported each other in trying to attain goals they have set.

``We do a lot of support,'' she said. ``We give support and advice to each other. You don't go to these meets so much to win a trophy. You go to break your personal goals.''

Gilbert, and other members, have already attained some lofty achievements. She holds several state and national records in her weight class.

Glenn Speight, another lifter on the team, holds the state squat record in his weight class.

Elliott, who works at Riverwind, holds the North Carolina state record for juniors in the squat at 551 pounds and a national record in the bench at 435 pounds. Elliott, a graduate of Gates County High School who plans to play football for Elizabeth City State University this fall, has deadlifted 600 pounds and benched 460 pounds at the club during training sessions.

``When I first broke 400 (in the bench), I did 430. That was a shocker,'' Elliott said. ``I didn't think I could do that much weight. My ultimate goal is 500 pounds.''

And that's not 500 pounds of trophy. by CNB