Rice Powerlifting Team
Club Description - The Rice Powerlifting Team was developed to support Rice students, faculty, and staff interested in developing strength via training specific to the sport of powerlifting. The three events used to judge an individual's strength are squat, bench press and deadlift. The team is supportive of lifters at all levels of ability and participation. One focus is to gather a concentration of competitive lifters to represent Rice University at local, regional and national meets. In each powerlifting meet, an individual is given three attempts at each of the three events. The individual who lifts the greatest total weight (sum of the best of each event) in a given body weight class wins the meet. On occasion, a "best lifter" of the meet is designated using calculations based on body weight and weight lifted (not simply a ratio). An individual must be careful to begin a meet by choosing a weight which they can lift without much chance of failure. Every individual must complete at least one successful lift in each of the events. Individuals are not allowed to decrease weight subsequent to an attempt. The Rice Powerlifting Team is in complete agreement with the standards set by the American Drug Free Powerlifting Association. The ADFPA tests individuals for drug use regularly to insure fair competition and to support a healthy lifestyle.
Contact Information
Team Captain, Thomas Burnett: tburnett@owlnet.rice.edu
I began lifting weights in high school in order to get strong enough to make the varsity baseball team. Though my baseball career is long over, weightlifting is still a large part of my life. I have found that weightlifting is enjoyable both in itself and as a sport-specific training program. My vision of the Rice Powerlifting Club is to introduce its members to the sport of powerlifting, to develop strength for whatever goals we might have, and foster a love for leading a healthy, physically active lifestyle.
Tom Burnett
"The human body was never designed for a sedentary lifestyle. It was made to hunt saber-toothed tigers and walk forty miles a day."
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Team Captain, Cisco Rivero : cisco@rice.edu
I have long felt that a void existed here at Rice for an association of individuals adamant about physical fitness through strength training. Only through the establishment of a club, or network, of weight training enthusiasts could that goal become a reality. Thus was born the impetus for the Rice Powerlifting Club. Powerlifting is the opportunity to strengthen both body and mind against one's ultimate medium to test your resolve, perfect your body, and feel good about yourself. So make it happen. See you in the gym.
Cisco Rivero
Faculty Advisor, Dr. Gibson: hoot@rice.edu
I began weightlifting at 13 years of age due to a lack of size and strength necessary to compete in football and other contact sports. I soon became more interested in competing in lifting than in other sports. With very few interruptions, I have been lifting for over 17 years. My training has ranged from recreational weightlifting to competitive powerlifting and weightlifting (olympic lifts). I was a member and president of the Powerlifting Team at The University of Texas at Austin. During my years of participation on the team, we won four national championships in the American Drug Free Powerlifting Association. I competed in several weight classes (148, 165, 181, 198 lbs). In 1990, the ADFPA Collegiate National Championships were held at Virginia Tech, and I finished 11th in the nation in the 165 lb weight class. In 1991, the ADFPA Collegiate National Championships were held at Purdue University, and I finished 6th in the nation in the 181 lb weight class.
In 1992, the ADFPA Collegiate National Championships were held at The University of Texas at Austin, and I finished 3rd in the nation in the 198 lb weight class. I was privileged to compete with several fantastic lifters at the collegiate level. Several of my closest friends were national champions. A list of a few of the more impressive lifts include, but are not limited to:
David Walker 114 lb Deadlift 405 lb
Larry Bolden: 123 lb Deadlift 473 lb
Kim Beckwith 129 lb Deadlift 363 lb
Brandon Cooper 132 lb Squat 460 lb
Eric Hammer 148 lb Squat 575 lb
Eric Hammer 165 lb Squat 606 lb
Eric Fomby 165 lb Deadlift 628 lb
DJ Jenkins 220 lb Squat 680 lb
Manny DeLaroza 320 lb Squat 720 lb
* In 1993, Mark Henry frequently trained with us. We were lucky enough to watch his high school record breaking 933 lb squat. Mark weighed approximately 420 lb. Mark went on to represent the US Olympic Team in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Mark was extremely unusual because he was excellent at both Powerlifting (squat, bench, deadlift) and Olympic Lifting (clean and jerk, snatch).
My last year of eligibility as a collegiate lifter was forfeited when I decided to focus my energy on finishing my Masters Degree in Kinesiology. I went on to finish my PhD in Kinesiology at UT. My personal areas of interest include mechanisms of skeletal muscle hypertrophy and the effects of aging on muscle mass. I no longer compete in powerlifting, but I have gained a great deal of experience with regard to helping others maximize strength specific to their goals. I hope to help Rice University become competitive at the local, regional and national levels.
Brian T. Gibson, PhD
- American Drug Free Powerlifting Association: (ADFPA)
- Strength Training Muscle Map:
- (STMM)
- Link to York Barbell for Equipment
- Link to Monster Muscle for Equipment
For an introduction to periodization training programs which allow training 2, 3, 4, or 5 times per week, click here! These programs can be modified substantially to meet your goals.