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s p o r t s news
Small Town Gym, Big Time Accomplishments
Dana F. Czapanskiy
Most people across the country
have probably never heard of
our small town, but on Saturday,
August 5, 2017, three people
from Thurmont’s Anytime Fitness
set national and state records in
the United States Powerlifting
Association’s Free State Open in
Frederick.
Fifteen-year-old Bryce Schilling
and seventy-year-old Karen
Czapanskiy (not a typo, folks)
were awarded gold medals and set
national division records in all three
lifts—the squat, the bench press, and
the deadlift—in their age and weight
classes. Their coach and Anytime
Fitness club manager, Jason Blough,
set three Maryland state records in
his respective age and weight class
and deadlifted a personal best of
501.5 pounds. Vinny Testa, a first-
time competitor, and Justin Winfield,
both of Thurmont, also competed in
the event.
Bryce Schilling, a rising
sophomore at Catoctin High School,
plays J.V. football. His significant
strength gains over the past year
have served him well on the field.
This dedicated young man squatted
402.3 pounds and deadlifted 451.9
pounds.
Karen Czapanskiy, a resident of
nearby Sabillasville, is a professor
at the University of Maryland Carey
School of Law and rarely lifted
anything but law books. About
two years ago, she started training
twice a week with nary a thought
of competing in powerlifting.
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(right) - Karen
Czapanskiy finsihes her
deadlift, taking home
the gold and setting a
national division record.
She made slow,
impressive gains.
The day of the
competition, thirty
years senior to
the next female
competitor,
Karen squatted
121.3 pounds
and deadlifted
a personal best
of 154.3 pounds. But the real
story here, Karen believes, is the
impressive support that families,
friends, and fellow competitors so
generously provided, and the long-
term impact of Title IX, a law which
opened doors for women in sports.
The Catoctin Banner Newspaper October 2017 Page 27
(left) Coach and Anytime You’ve shown me I can do the sport
Fitness Club Manager I love most of my life.” One is never
Jason Blough (center) too old to exercise and improve their
sets three Maryland state physical fitness and confidence.
records in his respective
age and weight class, and Just like in the classic children’s
fifteen-year-old Bryce book, The Little Engine that Could,
Schilling (pictured left) Karen and her husband, Dana,
and seventy-year-old joined Anytime Fitness with the
Karen Czapanskiy (pictured
right) both take home gold personal mantra of “I think I can.”
medals and set national Okay, maybe it was, “I hope I can.”
division records in the But the real magic, they both say,
United States Powerlifting was the welcoming culture of the
Association’s Free State
Open in Frederick in gym. Many people who are older,
August. out of shape, or overweight are too
intimidated to walk into a gym full
of buff, beautiful people. Anytime
Courtesy Photos Fitness has its share of six-pack
abs, big guns, and ripped young
people. But the real beauty of the
gym, Karen and Dana say, is the
encouragement and support. The
regulars are warm, welcoming, and
friendly, and the community is full
of caring and good humor.
Bryce and Karen competed
at a high level because of their
dedication and commitment, but
also because of the support and
skill of their coach, Jason Blough,
who hardwired perfect lifting form
and competition readiness. They
also received the love and support
of family and friends, the glue that,
for many, proves essential to success
Statistics, record setting, and and achievement. Without all that,
medals are all important, but there’s this would be a different story or no
always another story behind the story at all. When an environment
story. Karen’s favorite comment welcomes all and encourages
during the competition was from everyone to do their personal best,
a young woman competitor who everyone wins and anything can
said, “You give me real inspiration. happen.