NORWICH - On Saturday, July 23, Evolve Fitness held a powerlifting event to support the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics lifting team was in attendance at the function, putting on demonstrations between sets.

“We were very excited to have them,” said Cathy Ulfik of Evolve Fitness. “They are very, very talented.”

The Special Olympics lifting team competed at the NYS Special Olympics Games this year at Brockport, bringing home 23 medals.

There were several United States Powerlifting Association NYS records broken at the event. Ed Dibari broke the state record for squat, bench press, and overall total in the 220 lbs masters 45-49 division with a squat of 573 lbs and a bench of 430 lbs; four-time state record holder Dave Crawford regained the top spot in the 148 lbs division with a 452 lbs deadlift, the second time he has broken this particular record this year; Austin Lewis broke the state records for bench press and squat in the 149 lbs class of the 18-19 junior division with a 275 lbs bench and 440 lbs squat; and Gage Bates broke the teen state record for deadlift in the 165 lbs division with a 440 lbs deadlift.