Grunts and groans came from the bench as 14 men battled it out to be the best of the Union Drive best.

They were part of a bench press contest held Saturday afternoon at Friley Hall.

The contest raised money for The Boys and Girls Club of Ames. Geff Gescheidler, executive director of the club, said the $180 the event took in is going toward the construction of a new building for the club. About 11 children were present to cheer the contestants on.

“We provide a safe environment for the kids after school, instead of hanging around on campus and wandering the streets,” Gescheidler said.

Lauren Moore, a junior in graphic design, was the overall winner, benching 380 pounds. Moore said he had charity in mind. “I just wanted to lift and, of course, for charity.”

Moore has been lifting for about five years, but he has not lifted since Thanksgiving break.

When he won, four girls from the club asked him if he was single, got his autograph and his telephone number. Twelve-year-old Jessame Reedholm, a member of the club, said, “I thought it was pretty fun to watch. We got free T-shirts and, of course, Lauren is so fine.”

The attire worn by some contestants included gym shorts, t-shirts, jeans, dress shoes, hats, lifting gloves, weight belts and one had a checkbook in his back pocket.

Chris Brink, a junior in marketing and the utility chair for the Friley Hall student government, said he and his friend lift five days a week, and work two times a week on benching. Brink has been lifting for about four years. He took second place in the 152-pound division.

Todd Bell, a sophomore in animal science, said, “Chris and I compete with each other. We lift together and we cheer for each other so it makes this contest even better.” Bell won first-place in the 160-pound division.

As the contestants mentally prepared for their lifts, they paced back and forth, put their hands in their faces as if they were praying, played with their jewelry and practiced breathing exercises.