FLEMING ISLAND - One competitor was 10 years old, another lifted nearly 500 pounds and one just moved into the 70-over category.

For Steel Mill gym owner Bill Davis, the gathering of competitors at his Jacksonville Open powerlifting invitational on Saturday in Fleming Island reminded him of the camaraderie of sports.
"We get people of all ages coming back to the gym to lift weights and do cross fit just to stay in shape or improve recovery of an injury, but the competition is what brings the people together," said Davis, 11 years in Fleming Island. "It's well known that lifting weights is one of best ways to improve overall health. The people get in the gym, talk to other people about their situation and all of a sudden, they are teammates."
On Saturday, at a small gathering of powerlifters doing the three mainstay lifts; Squat, Bench Press and Dead Lift, the age groups started with Davis' own daughter, 10 year old Charlee Davis, who included some pretzel flexibility moves that would make Nadia Comenici cringe; a 16 year old Union County High student, Ezekiel Malphurs, who lifted to the tune of 300-plus bench press, 400-plus squat and 500-plus dead lift, and 70 year old Tonnie Allison, who donned the best looking competition outfit of the day, and had the seriousness about her of an Olympic gold medalist.
"It's a purpose and, with others in that same boat, the weight on the bar is less important than just being a competitor at whatever age," said Davis, 41, a standout wrestler from Illinois, but, admittedly, a guy not gifted with superb natural ability beyond a work ethic to his successes in wrestling and powerlifting. "I just worked my butt off to get to the successes I had and I think that transcends what we do here."
For Malphurs' coach Brian Griffis, who coached state champions while at Union County High School, the emergence of powerlifting brings raw power to the weightlifting game, plus a little more safety.
"In the high schools, you have the Olympic Snatch which is a dynamic, fast-moving technical lift that goes from floor to overhead," said Griffis. "The powerlifting disciplines are a little slower and a little safer for newcomers to the sport. Ezekiel is a potential world games athlete in a few years when his body gets stronger and matures."