THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 9, 1994 TAG: 9406080164
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY XIAOHONG ZHANG SWAIN, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: 940609 LENGTH: Medium
When he compares himself with his close friend and former 148-pound world powerlifting champion Bob Wahl, he sees the difference that sets them apart.
{REST} ``Bob Wahl has the genes for powerlifting,'' Berg said. ``Chad Berg has the average genes and tries very hard.''
At 23, Berg is content that his continuous hard training has made him the 132-pound class champion at the 1993 Ohio State Championships held in Toledo and the 148-pound class champion at the 1994 Virginia State Championships in Roanoke. Both meets were organized by the United States Powerlifting Federation (U.S.P.F.).
At the May 1 Virginia State Championships, Berg set personal records in all three lifts. He squatted 374 pounds, bench pressed 248 pounds and deadlifted 429 pounds, for a total of 1,051 pounds, which is more than seven times his 144-pound body weight.
Berg likes what he did at the meet, but he recognizes that some changes need to be made for the next training cycle as he prepares for the 1995 U.S.P.F. National Junior Championships. First, he needs to lose 12 pounds to get back to competing in the 132-pound class.
``Percentage-wise, I lift the best at 132 pounds,'' he said. ``I had a lot of junk food before the meet.''
He also needs to shorten his training cycle to six or eight weeks, instead of 10 weeks, so he won't feel overtrained.
Berg began lifting weights after graduating from high school. Through his father, who was also a powerlifter, Berg met Wahl at the gym in Toledo.
``Bob taught me the ins and outs of the sport,'' Berg said. ``He taught me to lift smart at meets.''
Following Wahl's advice, Berg formulates his lifts in competition according to what he has done in the gym.
``I don't go to the meets with an expectation of weights that I have no clue of possibly doing,'' he said. ``(The result) of a meet is determined in your gym training cycle, not at the meet.''
A native of Toledo, Berg moved to Chesapeake last October. Now a warrant officer and a full-time registered nurse at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Berg makes sure he doesn't miss his workouts, especially during the training cycle.
Training on his own, Berg said he depends on his wife, Amy, for assistance. At a couple of the competitions, he asked her to videotape his lifts for later evaluation.
``I do some of the spotting for him,'' said Amy. ``I help him put on the squat suit at a meet.''
She has her own daily work out routine. After she sends her husband to work, Amy heads to the gym for two hours of aerobic exercises and light weight lifting.
While Berg enjoys the moment of working out alone at the gym, Amy occasionally likes him to come along for a jog.
``But I can't,'' Berg said. ``I have to think about that heavy workout I will have to do tomorrow, and I don't want to tire my legs out.''
Though Berg avoids a lot of outdoor activities for the sake of powerlifting, he values the importance of not letting powerlifting completely rule his life.
``I have seen some powerlifters let lifting affect their jobs and families,'' Berg said. ``But I learned from Bob Wahl that I need to pay attention to my family before I lift.''
Besides his wife, Berg has support from his chain of command in the Navy. Actually, he was given an order to represent the Navy at the 1994 Virginia State Championships.
``It made me feel proud that they let me represent the service,'' Berg said. ``I was given two days off before the meet. The extra time helped me to travel to the meet and recuperate.''
Unlike many other organized sports, powerlifting meets are organized by different associations including U.S.P.F., American Powerlifting Federation (A.P.F.) and American Drug Free Powerlifting Association (A.D.F.P.A.) and International Powerlifting Federation (I.P.F.). Berg said he believes in the unification of the organizations.
``From the '70s to the mid-'80s, U.S.P.F. was the only body in powerlifting,'' Berg said. ``When the other bodies were developed, it diluted the sport with so many championships.''
Berg said he has only been competing within U.S.P.F.
``U.S.P.F. is the most close organization to the International Olympic Committee,'' he said. ``If one day powerlifting becomes an Olympic sport, U.S.P.F. will likely be the organization to represent the sport.''
by CNB