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Benjamin Alexander Cantrell

Treasurer

181, 198

Junior, Mechanical Engineering

Hometown:  Princeville, Illinois

High School:  Princeville

Post-Secondary:  

Nicknames:  Ben, Ambassador Ben

Hobbies and Interests:  "Bass guitar, Japanese, cars, food."

Sports Background:  Ben competed in cross country in high school.

Lifting Background:  "Got tired of being beat up in high school and decided to get huge . . . it worked."  A fine example of how weight training can contribute to successful conflict resolution.

Best Competition and/or Gym Lifts:

Note: Although not a competitive power event, Ben believes his best lift so far has been "14 pieces of pizza in one sitting."

Meet Performance:

Meet Championships:

Records Held:

Best Lifter Awards:

Something Cool/Unique About Ben:  "My nose is crooked and I have a 5-pack for some reason.  Oh yeah, I've got crabs! . . . hermit crabs that is."  (Take good care of those crabs, Ben.)  Update 01-29-05:  Ben got rid of his crabs.

More About Ben:  Ben is a new member of Illini Powerlifting with a great deal of potential.  In his first deadlift workout, he was pulling near 400.  With a couple of meets under his lifting belt and a growing addiction for the sport, watch for Ben to bench 350 and pull 550 at WABDL Worlds in Reno.

Update About Ben from Uncle John - August 16, 2004:  Ben spent the summer of 2004 studying in Japan.  While he was there, I made him Illini Powerlifting Ambassador to Japan, with the specific assignment of meeting with and establishing for us a good relationship with the Okayama University Powerlifting Team.  The Okayama University Powerlifting Team is one of the oldest, long-running, and most successful university powerlifting clubs in Asia, and I have been hoping that we could establish a formal "sister club" relationship with them.  Ben was able to meet with the members of the Okayama team and attend the Japanese National Powerlifting Championships with them.  He was very warmly received and represented us in exemplary fashion.  I can't think of any member who could have made a better impression for us than Ben.  After the competition, Ben spent some quality drinking time with the Okayama team . . . VERY important in Japanese culture. 

Ben was Interviewed at the National Meet	Doing the Hard Work of International Relations

Having Fun with the Okayama Team

Thanks to Ben's hard work, Illini Powerlifting has new friends in Japan.  For his efforts, I have appointed Ben to an important new position in Illini Powerlifting: International Outreach Officer.  In this office, Ben will be responsible for our efforts to recruit and retain UIUC international student membership in Illini Powerlifting AND to cultivate relationships between our club and other college and university powerlifting clubs around the world.  And by the way, Ben suggests you check out these links:  Okayama University and The Okayama University Powerlifting Team.