United Health Services (UHS) Zoo Powerlifting Zoo to host meet

Note: Media are invited to attend the meet at the UHS Vestal Performance Gym. Best Media Arrival Time is 11 a.m. Day of event contact Andrew Long, UHS Sports Medicine Strength & Conditioning Coach, (609)-851-2618 (cell) or andrew.long@nyuhs.org.

On Saturday, March 14, starting at 11 a.m., UHS’ Zoo Powerlifting team will host a 100% RAW Powerlifting Meet at the UHS Vestal Performance Gym, located in UHS’ Vestal office, 4433 Vestal Parkway East, across from Binghamton University. Nearly 60 lifters will participate, including a Special Olympics powerlifting team and individuals from as far away as Connecticut.

Entrants will include men and women from ages 7 to 80 competing in bench press, deadlift and strict curl events. To keep competition fair, lifters compete in their own weight and age classes, and the lifter with the highest total wins. At local and regional events, there are typically five to 10 entrants per weight class.

Andrew Long, MS, SCCC, CSCS, RSCC, USAW, UHS Sports Medicine Strength and Conditioning Coach, is the 100% RAW Powerlifting Federation’s New York State chair, responsible for planning, organizing and overseeing all New York-based meets for the Federation. He explained, “This is a huge event for this area – we’re drawing participants from all over the northeast. Powerlifting necessitates fundamental strength, then challenges you more and more as you build up in complexity of movement and weight. The training has benefits such as improved fitness, overall health and body composition, increased muscle mass and increased confidence.”

Powerlifting has been recognized as a sport for about 60 years. UHS’ Zoo Powerlifting team was established in 2017 by the UHS Sports Performance staff as a way to work out together. The 12-member team now includes UHS staff and physicians, local high school athletes, members of the UHS men’s training program and others. In just three years, the team has enhanced its standing in the powerlifting community, now with eight national and four world titles to its credit.

The group is open to the public; lifting times vary thought the year. No experience is required. For more information, contact Long by email at andrew.long@nyuhs.org.

United Health Services, Inc. (UHS) is a locally owned, not-for-profit hospital and healthcare system serving Greater Binghamton and surrounding counties. Founded in 1981, UHS provides a full range of medical, surgical, rehabilitative and long-term care services throughout New York’s Southern Tier. Follow the latest UHS news and more at nyuhs.org and on Facebook—facebook.com/uhshospitals and Twitter—twitter.

United Health Services, Inc. and the members of the UHS System neither are affiliated with, sponsored, endorsed nor approved by, nor otherwise associated with, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS), UHS of Delaware, Inc. nor their affiliates, which can be found at www.uhsinc.com.