Fitness Center hosts R.A.W. powerlifting competition

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Mark Graff
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  MacDill Air Force Base's Short Fitness Center hosted the 2010 United We Stand Tampa Classic, a powerlifting competition, Sunday. On a wet and dreary April day when most
people would likely be content to stay home, more than 30 powerlifters were hard at work, competing in the event.

The contest was organized by R.A.W. United, a powerlifting group established to honor America's servicemembers, and included the squat, bench press and deadlift.

The participants in this competition came from many walks of life, but Doctor Spero Tshontikidis, R.A.W. United founder, said the focus is often on servicemembers and military families.

"Every meet, we have veterans or active duty folks, or reservists or guardsmen, just because everyone knows that that's our thrust. But we're open to everybody and to students whoare also in an ROTC program or in the academies."

The morning kicked off with weigh-in and registration and shortly thereafter, lifting began at 10 a.m.

Lt. Gen. John Allen, deputy commander of U.S. Central Command, located at MacDill AFB, presented awards to the winning lifters in each weight division amid raucous applause from an encouraging crowd of nearly 75 supporters, coaches and family members.

Such a supportive, community feel is typical at these powerlifting events, said Doctor Tshontikidis.

"This sport, in and of itself, is pretty encouraging," said Doctor Tshontikidis. "You have teams, but that just means you train together. You will find even if you are battling it out with another guy or another girl, you're still encouraging each other."

As a former Army Special Forces operator, Doctor Tshontikidis feels strongly about supporting servicemembers and their families.

"I was in the military in the early '80s. I served in the 10th Special Forces Group. When 9/11 hit, I was working in the Washington, D.C. public schools, received a waiver and got back into the military."

Doctor Tshontikidis' motivation in founding R.A.W. United and providing a caring, powerlifting federation for servicemembers and military families is clear.

"The whole idea was just to give back to the soldiers. It's just all about giving back to military families," he said.