Originally posted by THE LEDGER
LAKELAND | Look out Tim Tebow

Jacob Sundey is challenging the University of Florida quarterback’s football and weight lifting greatness on a youth level.

The 14-year-old broke Amateur Athletic Union world powerlifting records in the deadlift and bench press during the Thanksgiving weekend in Myrtle Beach, S.C..

The weekend prior to the powerlifting event, the 132-pound, 5-foot-5 Lakeland resident scored the only touchdown in his Plant City Dolphins football team’s 30-6 playoff loss to the East Bay Bucs.

Jacob, the son of Bobbi and Keith, not only plays offense, he plays defensive tackle as well.

His football helmet is covering with reward stickers. He wears No. 15 on his jersey in honor of Tebow.

His father’s office wall is covered with Jacob’s national and world record certificates.

“I feel good,” Jacob said. “I’ve worked for years for this.”

Jacob broke the deadlift world record in his age group and weight class by 51 pounds. He broke the bench record by almost two pounds.

Jacob won the AAU Junior Olympic 132-pound class in Iowa in August with personal best lifts in the deadlift (308 pounds), squat (303) and bench (167).

Although he had gone to four AAU nationals and qualified for the worlds before, it was the first time he attended during football season.

“We just never went because of football,” his father said. “It’s tough because with football, he practices three nights a week.”

Jacob works out for powerlifting before football practices. He plays games on Saturdays.

While he had never competed in a meet during a football season, his father had given him a taste of doing both the previous season.

This year, doing both didn’t seem to bother Jacob.

At worlds, Jacob opened with a bench press of 137 pounds with no trouble. Then he went to 159 pounds. His third lift was 184, two pounds better than the world record.

He broke the deadlift record (275 pounds) with his opening lift of 283 pounds. In his third lift, he hit 325 pounds.

He also squatted 248 pounds at the meet, but that wasn’t a record.

“It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be,” he said.

Judy Wood, an AAU official, has seen Jacob lift since 2001.

“He’s an extraordinary lifter,” she said. “When he sets on the platform, he’s so focused and intent. Out of all the kids I’ve known, he’s one of the most gifted. You don’t see that focus with kids his age.
This story appeared in print on page C2

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 11:55 am and is filed under Powerlifting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.