Tom Haggenmiller of Crystal-Lida lake area qualified for the world bench press and dead lift championships.

At the northwest national power lifting championships in July, at the Marriot Hotel, Minneapolis, Haggenmiller set Minnesota state records in the bench press that qualified him to compete at the world championships at Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in November.

Tom weighed in at only 178 lbs in the 68 to 74 year old age division, to lift in the 181.75 lbs division. He lifted “raw,” which means he wore no supportive lifting equipment. On the bench press, you have to hold the weight 2 seconds on your chest, press it up and don’t move your back, head or feet, explained Haggenmiller. He is the owner of Power Works Gym, in Perham, and is a longtime resident of Crystal Lake in the Pelican Rapids area.

A longtime state and national record holder in various weight and age divisions, Haggenmiller
was satisfied with his bench press at 205 and 210, but his dead lift has been giving him trouble at 385–after lifting 405 twice in the gym.

This will be the eighteenth time Haggenmiller has competed in the world championships around the U.S.–winning seven of them. His goal has been to come in the top five in the world–he’s done that every time.

Tom’s gym, Power Works opened in Perham 19 years ago. He previously worked at the Fergus Falls Fitness Center; and prior to that in the Twin Cities area.

Tom is always looking for new people to lift with–whether experienced or not.

“I just want to help people…it’s a short drive to Perham to work out at a well equipped gym with a world champion who can help you,” said Haggenmiller. “Even the Center for Disease Control says you should do some weight resistance training two – three times a week.”

As Haggenmiller likes to say: “I’ll pump you up.”