Marshalltown powerlifting enthusiasts were treated to the World Raw Powerlifting (WRP) Federation M-Town Showdown meet last weekend. It was the first time such an event was held in Marshalltown, and it may not be the last. The meet brought athletes from across the Midwest, and 400 to 500 audience members to the Midnight Gardens.

Jake Reynolds, owner of Black Iron Barbell in Marshalltown, and Jake Hartman of DSM Barbell in Des Moines were responsible for bringing the official WRP-sanctioned competition.

“This is the first official powerlifting meet ever in Marshalltown,” Reynolds said. “We had 60 lifters competing [Saturday] and 20 lifters competing [Sunday.]”

Reynolds said every state has a WRP chapter. In Iowa, Hartman is the director, so Reynolds reached out to Hartman to inquire about hosting a meet in Marshalltown.

“It’s a niche sport. People don’t really know about it,” he said. “But it’s really big worldwide. A lot of people who don’t even powerlift showed up just to see what it was about.”

Reynolds wanted to put effort into the event so the competitors would want to return. He created a professional atmosphere through official banners. The Showdown consisted of squat, bench and deadlift categories. There were also weight and age categories in male and female. Reynolds said the age range of the lifters was 15 to 60.

The top lifters were awarded with gift packages from different companies, such as A7, First Form and $125 cash.

“It’s a good start,” he said. “It’s not a big money meet where everybody makes money, but there are those. It’s something to entice people to come here.”

With a passion for powerlifting, Reynolds combined that with a desire to see something new in Marshalltown, something that would bring visitors.

“There are people here from Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, South Dakota, even a lifter from Utah,” he said.

Lifters, their families and their friends stayed in the hotels, shopped at the businesses and ate at the restaurants.

“It brings people to see our community,” Reynolds said. “We’ve had good help with Dylan at the Chamber, giving maps to the restaurants in town. Karl of Marshalltown helped sponsor the event. Without those guys, I could not do this.”

Reynolds has a goal to bring an official meet to Marshalltown every year. He would also like to see strongman competitions.

“Every six months, I’d like to bring people to Marshalltown to compete,” Reynolds said.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.