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. Since 2000 Steve has been competing at the Men’s National Championships. Mann has placed 3rd in the Open 3 times.

The last three years, Steve has not been traveling to Men’s Nationals, which is the qualifier for the IPF Open World Championships. The last three years he has competed as a “professional” in the Arnold Sports Festival Quest Invitational.

Short term goals: Steve Mann plans to be the first lifter in USAPL history to squat over 800 lbs. and bench over 600 lbs. in the same competition at 242. Steve plans to achieve a 700 lb Deadlift, which will help his placing.

Long Term goals: Continue to progress as a Christian Drug Free Strength athlete who enjoys making progress that he can call his own or God given. He trains and aspires to to once again compete at the International World level.