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Biography - Lifting


Steve Mann began lifting for High School Football in the 8th grade. He was lucky enough to go to Abington Heights in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania where he was coached by Claude Welcome. Claude a certified weight lifting coach encouraged Steve to compete in his first Squat and Bench Press competition in March of 1991. He was in the 148 weight class and did a 335 LB Squat and 160 LB Bench Press.

From there Steve continued to cross train for Football and Powerlifting, with one season as a sprinter on the track team. In Football, he was a full back and strong side linebacker (pictured right #50) a majority of the time. Steve’s ran a 4.7 in the 40 yard dash, while squatting 565 LBs and bench 335 lbs in High School.

Senior year after football was completed; Steve focused purely on Powerlifting and was able to win all of High School events including the PSCPA High School Championships. This event was held at Glen Mills High School, which is a reform school that has won over 10 High School National Championships. Although Steve never left the state of Pennsylvania during High School for the sport of Powerlifting, he competed against National Champions.

Steve during his first semester of College was asked by his High School Powerlifting coach to do “one more” event. He really wasn’t sure if he wanted to keep going, but really didn’t have another plan. This event was held in White Plains, New York at the ADFPA Push/Pull. At the event, Steve was able to see that his strength stacked up pretty well. He kept going to events that year and with-in 12 months from his first sanctioned event, he won the WDFPF World Teenage Championships in Sussex, England (Pictured Left).

Since 1995 Steve has continued to step things up. He won the USAPL Collegiate National Championships in 1998. He then placed 6th at the IPF Junior World Championships.  Steve lifted at his first Men's Open National Championships in 1996, but didn't win until 2012.