With plenty of adrenaline flowing in the air, already thick from this weekend’s Iowa Games competition, the weightlifting event did not disappoint with its own share of energy and testosterone.

Sunday’s weightlifting competition, held at the Lied Recreation Center, was filled with emotion and power as 23 Iowa Games records were broken.

“My goal coming into today was 300 pounds, and I lifted 315,” said Monte Kauffman of Fort Dodge. “I just had a ball. The rush of energy and adrenaline is reason enough to compete in this competition.”

Kauffman said he has been lifting off and on for the past 20 years.

“In high school, I was a skinny little geek and wasn’t happy with my figure. It wasn’t until about four years ago that I dedicated 45 minutes to an hour a day to weight training. Since then, I have gained 25 pounds and feel great.”

One of the many achievements of the day came from Roger Hennigar of Newton, who finished with a 360-pound gold metal bench press for the day, which is nearly twice his body weight. Hennigar competed in the 187-pound weight class, and he actually weighs just 180.

Iowa Games weightlifting co-commissioner Paul Jewel said the competition is demanding and always produces surprises.

“It was just a wild and crazy day,” he said. “Both co-commissioner Joe Paulson and I love doing this every year, and this year definitely did not disappoint. Hennigar’s achievement is just one of many that happen every year. You never know what’s going to happen, but it’s fun.”

The bench press was the only lift at the competition. More than 100 athletes were placed into divisions according to weight, age and gender. Each athlete competed in flights of 15—20 lifters, grouped by division. Competitors determined what weight they would lift first. Lifters had three chances to successfully complete a particular weight before adding more weight and getting three new chances. Jewel said a legal bench press involves lowering a bar with weights to the chest, holding it there and then pressing up steadily when a judge gives a “press” command.