At FAU’s sixth biannual Strong Owl competition, “Lift that shit, bro!” was only one of many expletives shouted at competitors as they tried to prove their strength in front of a crowd of over 35 onlookers, judges, fellow competitors, and supporters.
The competition was outside of the Rec Center on April 2 from around 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Although registration officially opened Jan. 7, it did not close until the day competition began. All FAU students, faculty, and Rec Center members could register free of charge.
Based on traditional Strongman competitions — strength competitions that consist of events such as the tire flip, atlas stone lifting, and truck pulling — FAU’s Strong Owl competition gave students a chance to challenge each other’s strength.
“A lot of people that see [Strongman] on TV, don’t really have the chance to go do it,” said Joe Drake, assistant director of Fitness Programs at FAU’s Rec Center. “It gets people outside of the gym doing something a little outside of their comfort zone.”
At 4 p.m., weigh-ins began to divide the competitors into separate weight classes. Following weigh in, stretching, and hydrating, the competition began.
“I grew up competitive,” Tim Soder, a senior biology major and competitor, said. “I love doing this stuff … I’m in the weight room five days a week. I grew up playing wrestling, football. I love doing this stuff.”
Both women’s weight classes (140 and under and 140 and over) competed in order of registration on one event, followed by the men’s lightweight class (under 160) while the other men’s weight classes (160-179, 180-199, and 200 and up) competed in another event.
Five events in total had to be mastered: fat bar deadlift, medley, atlas stones, tire flips, and log press. For more information on each event, go to the Strong Owl 2013 web page which provides rules for this year’s competition.
“My leg is injured,” Jason Allen, a junior mechanical engineer major and winner of the 200 and up weight class, said. “I got hit playing rugby.”
To deal with his injury and become a winner of the event, Allen said he “just didn’t think about it. I just put it out of my mind.”
Although the competitors tackled each task alone, the cheers of the crowd, fellow competitors, and the MC Megan Supko — one of the personal trainers at FAU’s rec center — heightened the excitement of the competition.
“[The event] went really good,” Brittany Freeman, a senior exercise science and health promotion major and competitor, said. “Everyone was really supportive.”
As time went on, the cheers attracted more onlookers, electrifying the entire area outside FAU’s Rec Center.
Each weight class had its own first place winner who went home with the prize of a $50 gift certificate to NutriShop.
“It was nice to know I won a $50 gift certificate,” Allen said. “I won it last year too.” There was only one other competitor in Allen’s weight class. “I knew I was gonna win.”
FAU’s next Strong Owl competition will be held in fall 2013. The date has yet to be announced.
“[Doing this event] was pretty awesome actually,” Soder said. “I mean, I haven’t done wrestling since high school, and I’m a senior. It was great to come out and be able to do something. Amazing … They should definitely keep doing it.”
