Roman Reyes Jr. prepares for a deadlift in the 105kg Men’s Raw Open Division of the Classic Open Nationals in Atlanta, Georgia.
Contributed photo
CNMI-BORN athlete Roman Reyes Jr. achieved a personal milestone by earning the No. 16 national ranking after competing in the 105kg Men’s Raw Open Division of the Classic Open Nationals held in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 3 to 6, 2025.
During the competition, the 24-year-old Reyes recorded best lifts of 639.3 lbs (290kg) in the squat, 363.7 lbs (165kg) in the bench press, and 694.4 lbs (315kg) in the deadlift.
Although these were not his personal bests, his performance was still enough to place him 16th nationally.
This was Reyes’ first national-level competition, where he faced off against some of the best powerlifters in the country. Last year, he competed in the junior division; this year marked his debut in the men’s open division.
“The 105kg is one of the more competitive weight divisions in powerlifting, so breaking into the Top 20 was a big deal for me,” said Reyes.
When asked what contributed to this milestone, he said, “Always be consistent with training and approach every session with a great mindset.” He added, “I will run it back again next year and break into the Top 10. Zero doubt in my mind.”
Regarding the sport’s growing competitiveness, Reyes noted, “Powerlifting gets tougher every year. Those who stay consistent get stronger, and more people join the sport every day. It’s a numbers game — and if you don’t stick with your training, you’ll get left behind.”
