BANGOR – Two power lifters from Union Street Athletics Power Lifting Team went to the Drug Free Nationals on Sept. 20 in Irving, Texas. Both came back with gold medals.

“I’ve been doing it for about three years,” 23-year-old Louie Morrison said of his involvement with power lifting.

Sam Tyler, 38, has been lifting off and on for about 13 years.

It wasn’t the first time the pair had earned honors. They won gold medals at last year’s National Championship at King of Prussia, Pa., where their USA Power Lifting Team won the championship. Morrison recently went to Louisiana and won the junior championship. He was awarded the Best Lifter of the Meet trophy, designating him as the strongest lifter by formula for the meet. He also set the American and National Record for the largest total in class.

“We do what would be considered a classic power lifting,” Tyler said. The Old Town resident explained that the classic lifting involves three lifts – the squat, the bench press and the dead lift.

The squat consists of lifting the weight from a rack, stepping back, squatting so that the hip joint goes below the knee joint, and then standing again and placing the weight back on the rack.

“You’re surrounded by judges,” Tyler said.

The bench press, “probably the most widely known,” involves lying on a bench, lifting a weight from the rack, lowering it to the chest -“there must be a visible pause” – and lifting it and replacing it on the rack, he said.

The dead lift involves lifting a weight from the floor, holding it and then returning it to the floor. Dropping it while returning it to the floor is acceptable as long as the hands remain on the bar.

“That’s just a plain brute-strength lift,” Tyler said.

The two gold medalists’ best of three lifts for the September Drug Free Nationals were:

. Sam Tyler, 275-pound class – squat, 611.78; bench, 501.55; dead lift, 600.75; total, 1,714.08 pounds.

. Louie Morrison, 181-pound class – squat, 562.17; bench, 402.3; dead lift, 600.75; total, 1,565.22 pounds.

One of the hardest elements in a competition is following the commands issued, such as “squat” and “rack,” Tyler said. Lifters are used to working alone, and responding to commands can be very difficult.

“A lot of lifters get confused,” he said.

Tyler and Morrison enjoy the competitive aspect of power lifting.

Morrison, who lives in Bangor, is a certified personal trainer at Union Street Athletics. Though he wasn’t involved in athletics while in college, he had participated in several different sports in high school.

“I’m a sports nut. I’m very competitive,” he said. He enjoys power lifting and views it as a lifelong interest.

“It’s the most addictive thing I’ve ever done in my life,” said Tyler, who works as vice president of operations for 3 T’s Inc. in the Bangor Mall. He has retired from the sport only to return to it again.

Participation in power lifting is based on three categories – age, weight and gender. The team currently has about 15 members, both male and female. Union Street Athletics accepts adult lifters of all ages, and teen lifters as young as 14.

“Our youngest here, right now, is 17,” Morrison said.

While people with any medical condition should always check with their doctor before pursuing power lifting, having a physical problem does not always bar a person from participating, the pair said.

Morrison spoke of a 61-year-old with emphysema. He would be very limited in other sports, but is able to participate in power lifting because he can put all of his energy into one lift.

“He’s been the state of Maine champion,” Morrison said.

Tyler and Morrison said they wanted to thank Union Street Athletics, all Union Street Athletics members, and Innovative Fitness for all the support the team has received.

Those interested in learning more about power lifting may call USAPL state chairman Lance Reardon, or Louie Morrison at Union Street Athletics at 942-3200.