Local victory sets Airmen on path to world-class supremacy

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  • By Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez
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MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A crew chief duo from the 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron delivered a first-class showing at the Minot Can Am Powerlifting Competition Dec. 1 at the YMCA in Minot, N.D.

Both Senior Airman Robert Lesser and Airman 1st Class Austin Pappas came out as number one contenders for their weight class at the meet, which featured more than 70 powerlifting contestants from around the local community.

It was a remarkable victory for Pappas as he not only won best in his weight division competitions, but earned two of the "Best-Lifter Trophies," ranking first overall in the push-pull (suspension deadlift) and bench press competitions.

For Lesser, it was a day of breaking state records and setting a high bar of expectations for those to come. While he won first place in the push-pull competition for his weight class, he also broke two North Dakota state records in the 198-pound weight class when he completed three 331-pound squats and three 513-pound deadlifts. He also set a state record for deadlift, bench and squat combined, with a total lift of 1092 pounds.

Earlier this year Pappas set a Raw Powerlifting Federation world record for the 220-pound weight class when he benched 440.9 pounds.

The victories did not come without sacrifice and dedication from both of these Airmen. Exercising is something both have been actively engaged in since their early years of high school , and now they weight train an average of two hours each day at the gym.

"To be successful in any sport, you have to be well rounded," said Pappas.

Their intensive daily training often includes running with respirators; constantly working hand-grippers, bench pressing, intensive cardio, as well as eating nutritious meals high in protein and drinking their daily pre/after-work out shakes and more. Often times they even help out fellow Airmen, including supervisors, in their physical training endeavors. It is a lifestyle they have grown accustomed to.

"Once you get into it, it becomes second nature," said Lesser.

Both discussed the complexity of maintaining a constant workout routine given random shift work and long hours. Yet, Lesser noted that if somebody has an objective in mind and they are dead set on achieving it, priorities must be set and sacrifices made.

"You have to set things like that aside and do what you need to do to achieve a goal," said Lesser. And that goal for both is to be the best of the best among powerlifters around the world. It is that high bar of achievement they've set for themselves that will motivate them to the max they said.

While it has been the long training process which helped them to achieve their winning results here in Minot, this victory will hopefully serve as a steppingstone in achieving future aspirations.

Their undertakings in Minot take them to their next competition with U.S.A. Powerlifting of Minnesota, where they will participate for a chance to earn a spot at the national-level competition and possibly qualify to be part of the Air Force Powerlifting team. From then on, they would work for a spot in the world renowned Arnold Classic Powerlifting meet in South Africa next year.

It's no doubt they will do their best to make their plans a reality.

"Hard work makes dreams come true," Lesser said.