When Scott Hazelton began competitively lifting in 1998, it was to raise money for charity.
‘I kind of enjoyed it and it went from there,? he said.
Now, some eight years later, Hazelton holds the title of USA Powerlifting bench press national champion.
Hazelton accomplished the feat at the end of March in Denver, which he qualified for by winning a USAPL meet last Sept. in Jackson, MI.
Hazelton competes strictly in the bench press and competes in the Masters I (age 40-44), 165 weight class.
In addition to competing in the USAPL, Hazelton also competes in events sponsored by the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation and the World Natural Powerlifting Federation (where he’s a former national champion).
All three of the federations he competes in are drug-tested.
Hazelton said he competes in about three events each year, mostly in Michigan.
‘I do it for fun and to stay in shape,? he said, noting that there is no money involved.
‘Over the last 14 years the most time I think I’ve missed is about a week,? he added.
Training mostly at the Powerhouse Gym in Clarkston, Hazelton works out five days a week, spending each day focusing on a different body part.
About six or seven weeks before a competition, Hazelton and trainer Gregg Tvrdovsky start a preparation routine.
He’s my coach and a good buddy of mine,? Hazelton said of Tvrdovsky, whom he works with specifically on the bench press once a week.
All three federations to which Hazelton belongs sponsor events in the bench as well as the dead-lift and the squat.
‘Some people like to do all three,? Hazelton said, ‘But most of my competitors do just bench.?
‘I’m just a better bencher,? he added. ‘It’s just my specialty.?
On the bench, Hazelton has a career best lift of 405 pounds in competition. In Denver, where each competitor had three lifts (with only the top lift counting), Hazelton opened at 385 pounds.
‘Three-hunderd and eighty-five is as guaranteed as you can get it for me,? he said.
His second lift, at 407 pounds, appeared to set a new personal mark for Hazelton, but judges disqualified the lift saying that it was not a constant motion.
‘I thought I did it and my coach thought I did it,? Hazelton said. ‘It wasn’t that I didn’t do the lift, they just got me on a technicality.?
Though 407 would have been nice, the original lift of 385 held up throughout the competition, and Hazelton claimed the title anyway.
There were about 150 competitors in Denver, and eight in Hazelton’s weight class.
‘My entire lifting probably took 45 minutes,? he said, noting he spent four days in Denver.
‘I met a lot of people out there,? he said. ‘There were lifters from New Jersey, California, Texas, and all over the U.S.?
Next year’s event is in Texas, and Hazelton said he’d be back to defend his title.
He was hoping to compete in the world finals, but they were held in Helsinki, Finland.
‘If the world championships were here in the United States, I’d like to go just to say I’ve competed in them,? Hazelton said.
Being that he competes just for fun, and not for money, makes such a long journey impossible.
Hazelton works for Edward Jones Investments, and has his own office in downtown Clarkston. He lives with his wife, Brenda, and two young children in Lake Orion.
His sons, Preston, 4, and Blake, 3, aren’t quite ready to lift yet, but enjoy the many trophies their dad brings home.
In competition, Hazelton, a 1982 LOHS graduate, has set a number of lofty goals.
‘I’d like to be able to do over two-and-a-half times my body weight,? he said.
Hazelton admitted to lifting that amount, 412 pounds in the gym, but said doing so at a meet where a lifter is surrounded by judges and an audience is a much different task.
Another of his goals, making the top 100 list, has already been accomplished, and he’s shooting for the Michigan state record in his weight class.
But his ultimate goal is ‘just to compete as long as I feel good.?