High School Lifters Hit PRs
High school athletes are posting impressive personal records on social media, including Ivan Cardo's 455 lb squat (class of 2027 DL/OL), Gavin Marshall's 525 lb deadlift (class of 2029 RB/OLB), and L.A. Parris's 365 lb squat at 190 lbs bodyweight. Logan Greene posted a squat 415/clean 265/bench 275 combination at 6'0" 210 lbs.
- Ivan Cardo's 455 lb squat as a defensive and offensive lineman surpasses the average for a varsity-level high school player in those positions, which is typically around 405 lbs. - Gavin Marshall's 525 lb deadlift is particularly noteworthy as a class of 2029 athlete (typically a freshman), exceeding the average deadlift for varsity running backs and linebackers by over 100 pounds. - L.A. Parris's 365 lb squat at 190 lbs bodyweight is nearly double his bodyweight, a ratio considered an intermediate to advanced benchmark for high school athletes. - Logan Greene's combination of lifts, including a 415 lb squat and 275 lb bench press, places him in the range of a varsity to college-level strength standard for his positions. - For many young lifters, the next step after achieving high school success is to compete in sanctioned events like the Powerlifting America High School Nationals. - The significant strength gains seen in athletes from the classes of 2027 and 2029 are consistent with the post-peak height velocity phase of adolescent development, where male athletes are primed for substantial increases in muscle mass and strength. - This trend of younger athletes posting high numbers reflects a broader shift towards more specialized strength and conditioning coaching and better nutritional guidance at the high school level. - While social media allows athletes to share personal records, official state and national records must be set at sanctioned meets under governing bodies like USA Powerlifting to be formally recognized.