On Saturday, September 12, GMCF hosted our very first PowerLifting Meet. And what a fantastic day it was.
Throughout the entire day, from the first back squat to the final deadlift, GMCF was filled with incredible energy. Athletes pushed themselves to lift heavier then they ever have before, volunteers helped the day run seamlessly, and the community of lifters and spectators cheered each other on and celebrated each other’s accomplishments.
The GMCF PowerMeet was created to give people a chance to experience powerlifting without many of the barriers to participation many people find at sanctioned meets. The PowerMeet held a real competition experience, complete with competition-standard judging, while keeping the atmosphere welcoming and approachable. There were no singlets or weigh-ins, and no previous competition experience was required. Athletes could choose to compete in one lift, two lifts, or full power.
There is something incredibly powerful about watching someone step onto the platform for the first time. Maybe they were nervous. Maybe they weren’t sure what to expect. Maybe they had spent months training toward this moment—or maybe they simply decided to give something new a try.
That was the heart of the PowerMeet. Yes, there were numbers on the scoreboard. There were PRs, successful attempts, hard-fought lifts, and plenty of heavy weight moved. But the most memorable moments weren’t necessarily the biggest lifts. They were the moments when someone hit a goal they had worked toward for months, when a friend screamed encouragement from the sidelines, when a lifter celebrated someone else’s success as loudly as their own, or when a first-time competitor walked away realizing they were capable of more than they thought.
This is what we mean when we talk about being Everyday Stronger.
Strength isn’t just about how much weight you can move. It’s about showing up. It’s about trying something that scares you. It’s about learning. It’s about having people in your corner. And it’s about discovering that you are capable of things you weren’t sure you could do.
A huge thank-you goes to every athlete who stepped onto the platform and made the first GMCF PowerMeet what it was.
Thank you to our volunteer judges, scorekeepers, and spotters for bringing their knowledge and experience and helping create a legitimate competition environment– Miriam, Sarah, Aja, Doug, Brian, Chad, Casey, and Chris. Your support made this event possible.
Thank you to everyone who came to watch, cheer, encourage, and celebrate.
Thank you to Hendrik Reinold whose enthusiasm to bring Powerlifting to GMCF made this event possible. The PowerMeet was Hendrik’s creation and he put in the enormous amount of work required to make it happen and run so smoothly. Hendrik created this event that felt both legitimate and professional while still capturing the welcoming, community-centered spirit that makes GMCF special.
The 2026 PowerMeet was our first, but It definitely won’t be our last.
Until then, keep lifting heavy, cheering loudly, and showing up for each other.
Thank you everyone for making our first PowerMeet unforgettable.
For full results and photos:
