Weightlifter brings friendly competition to Springfield Rec Center

Denise Gebroe has a lot of piles on her desk. She’s running around doing “90 different things” in order to get ready for this weekend.
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Weightlifter brings friendly competition to Springfield Rec Center By JOSH WEINREB | Mar 27, 2014 Share on facebook Share on gmail Share on blogger Share on print More Sharing Services 0 SPRINGFIELD — Denise Gebroe has a lot of piles on her desk. She’s running around doing “90 different things” in order to get ready for this weekend. And from all accounts, it’s shaping up to be not only a first for the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center, but also a first in a region that has yet to see very many other things like it. “I’m hearing a lot of positive feedback,” Gebroe said Wednesday. “There really hasn’t been anything like it in this area before. I'm really excited.” “Just a lot of call backs to do,” she added with a laugh. “I’m staying busy.” Gebroe has spent the past few months organizing a local powerlifting competition, which will take place this Saturday at the Springfield Red Center. So far around 35 people have signed up to participate and compete, and Gebroe can’t wait. “I just want to make people not so apprehensive about it,” she said about lifting weights. “Lifting is extremely important to bone density, stamina, strength ... it’s more than just cardio.” “When I started lifting weights, that's when I got more toned,” Gebroe added. “I want to share that with other women.” But the competition isn’t just for women. Interest in powerlifting seems to have sparked in Springfield with the creation of a lifting club at Springfield High School, and the emergence of weight lifting and fitness concentration at the Springfield Rec Center. For Gebroe, that being able to continue that growth is the ultimate goal, while being able to give those who already lift an outlet for friendly competition. “(The Springfield lifting club) has been extremely involved,” she said. “They’re helping volunteer and competing. I see some of them in (the Springfield Rec Center) religiously. I’m excited. This is a chance for them to show off their progress.” The competition will consist of three power lifts - dead lift, back squat, and bench. Each participant will have three chances at each exercise, where the judges will choose the best out of their three attempts. Total scores will be tallied from each to ultimately determine a winner. “I’ve gotten medals and trophies and everything,” Gebroe said. “The winner gets a trophy I ordered, something with a statue on it. It’s cool.” For Gebroe, the most important thing is to get the word out about healthy lifestyles and the importance of fitness - something that she's taken to heart as a weight lifter herself and recent participant in an Olympic Lifting event. “I just want people to see it’s important,” she said. “It’s just a friendly competition, but it also helps promote what we’re trying to do...a healthy lifestyle through healthy eating and exercise. I’m just putting it out there. It really is important.” Lifting will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday morning at the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center in Springfield.