(New Buffalo, MI) - New Buffalo High School Senior Cameron Forker said he’s always been naturally strong but was still surprised at how well he did in the regionals on February 24th near Muskegon, breaking a NBHS record and qualifying for the state finals in his first competitive weightlifting match.

 

“I’m pretty happy,” he said.

 

Forker placed third in the super heavyweight division by lifting a combined 1,155 pounds in the deadlift, bench press, and squat. The total weight lifted qualified him for the state finals on March 9th, near Detroit. In turn. his deadlift of 475 pounds set the new school record.

 

New Buffalo High School Athletic Director Matt Johnson said the previous high mark in the deadlift was 450 pounds, done by Josh Kaminski in 2017.

 

The 6’2”, 310-pound Forker also lifted 275 pounds in the bench press and 405 pounds in the squat in the regionals.

 

Powerlifting at New Buffalo High School is a club sport.

 

Johnson said there were five matches the powerlifting team had a chance to get into this season, but the door, in what he described as sort of a lottery system, opened for just two of the club competitions. Forker said he missed the first match because of his responsibilities as Mr. New Buffalo, having to attend upcoming events associated with the Miss and Mr. Blossomtime pageant in the spring.

 

He started lifting weights for football in the eighth grade and kept doing so during every season of the sport he played in each of his four years of high school.

 

“Cam’s always been a big guy. He’s always had some good natural strength,’’ said Johnson, who’s also the head football coach.

 

It wasn’t until Forker joined the club two months ago that lifting weights, working on his techniques, and pushing himself to get better started to become part of his daily routine. To him,  the results of his first match were “pretty crazy.” Forker said he engages in light lifting the day after heavy lifting to help his body recover before it’s put to the test again.

 

“Sometimes you don’t want to overdo it especially when you have a competition coming up to avoid being tired or fatigued,” he said.

 

Forker said he’s not sure where his future might be with weightlifting, but doesn’t expect to give it up after graduating in June.

 

“I’m going to continue lifting weights no matter what. I’ll see if there’s any local competitions I can go to just show them what I got,” he said.