BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Zeke Malphurs of Lake Butler set three state records and won the Raw Sub Junior class at the seventh annual Powerlifting America Jacksonville Open Championships, which were held Jan. 20 at Steel Mill Crossfit and Gym in Fleming Island.
Malphurs, a 16-year-old who trains with Bryan Griffis at Raiford Wreckshop, compiled a 1,234.6-pound total, which put him in first place by 518.1 pounds.
He did more than win his class. Malphurs, who weighs 178 pounds, was named the meet’s best pound-for-pound lifter.
“He’s something else,” said Griffis, nothing that it was Malphurs’ first competition in more than a year.
In the squat, Malphurs did totals of 391.3 and 407.9 before his best attempt of 424.4. Griffis believes Malphurs could’ve done 450 if he had attempted it.
Malphurs bench pressed 314.2 after starting out at 303.1.
After a 479.5 total on his first deadlift attempt, Malphurs was unsuccessful on his attempt of 496. He attempted the total again on his final attempt, which was good.
Malphurs, a sophomore, began training with Griffis when he was in eighth grade. He trained alongside such lifters as Brianna Bracewell (née Jordan), Courtney Comer and Mihailya Reeves — lifters who’ve all won championships in powerlifting and in high-school competition. Griffis said those three lifters took Malphurs under their wings.
Since he began training with Griffis, Malphurs has made tremendous strides physically. He’s also improved mentally. Griffis said in the first-ever competition Malphurs took part in, he missed all three of his bench-press attempts and still had the deadlift and squat events to compete in. Griffis told Malphurs he had to get out of his own head and quit overthinking everything. All he had to do was replicate what he was doing in the weight room every day with Griffis.
Malphurs finished that meet having all successful lifts in both the deadlift and the squat.
“After that meet, his confidence started rising,” Griffis said.
Malphurs drew a lot of attention at the recent Jacksonville Open Championships. Once people became aware that he was setting records, they gathered around the platform when he was lifting, taking photos and video and congratulating him.
There was a time when it all probably would’ve been overwhelming and affected his performance, but not now.
“He was smiling the whole time,” Griffis said.
