Joey Perpoli Interview

1. Please introduce yourself. Who are you? How old are you? Where were you born? Etc. Give the readers some background about yourself.

- My name is Joey Perpoli. I am 17 years old and I was born in Palmdale, CA. I have been lifting weights sense I was in 6^th grade. I have played football for 7 years along with racing motocross for about 4 years. I am an adrenaline junky always looking for a new way to get a rush.

2. Where are you located in Georgia and where do you train at?

- I live in Madison Georgia and train at my school and the Madison health club.

3. What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)?

- I love racing motocross and wakeboarding but really any extreme sport holds my interest.

4. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have 3 things, what would they be?

- A rifle, a knife, and a 50 gallon drum of powdered gateraid

5. Who is your role model and why?

- Rob Dyrdeck is probably one of my biggest role models because he lives to have fun and live life to the fullest while at the same time being a highly successful entrepreneur

6. What is something that most people don’t know about you?

- Most people don’t know that behind my somewhat intimidating build, I’m kind of a teddy bear and glad to admit it.

7. If you could ask anyone from history any question, who would it be and what would you ask?

- I would ask Mike Metzger what it felt like to be the first person ever to flip a motorcycle

8. Is there anything about powerlifting you would like to change or wish was different?

- I wish the bench rules where more like the squat rules in that you didn’t have to wait for the official to give the “press” command and you could just press on your own.

9. What is your occupation? Does it interfere with competing or visa versa?

- I wouldn’t exactly call KFC an occupation but it definitely interferes with competing. Im cooking chicken when I could be training.

10. How did you get into powerlifting and how many years have you been competing?

- I first started lifting in the 6^th grade to get stronger for football. All through my high school career that is why I lifted weights. I had gone to weightlifting competitions with my football teams before but last month was actually my very first USAPL meet.

11. Are you involved in powerlifting in any way besides as a competitor?

- no

12. What are your biggest squat, bench press, dead lift and total numbers?

- 540/405/440

13. What titles, records and achievements have you accumulated during your power lifting career?

- 2011 CIF Golden league weightlifting champion

- 2013 GHSA AAA state weightlifting champion

- 2013 USAPL champion at 240lbs

14. Can you describe your training philosophy and/or a typical training session?

- No risk no reward

- go hard or go home- enough said

15. Do you compete equipped (squat suit, bench press shirt & deadlift suit) or unequipped (no suits) or both and what weight class(s) and divisions(s) do you compete in?

- Unequipped- 220lbs

16. What is your favorite lift, squat or bench press or deadlift or all three and why?

- Squat- the feeling after lifting over 500lbs on my shoulders is amazing

17. Who is the most impressive lifter you have competed against?

- I honestly have no Idea what his name was

18. Who is your greatest rival?

- A guy name Osirious Burke has always been my biggest rival but one of my best friends.

19. Who do you think is the greatest lifter of all time?

- Eric Spoto is pretty amazing

20. When was your last competition & how did it go?

- March, it went very well. I took home the first place medal

21. Do you have any upcoming competitions? If so, when and where?

- Mobile Alabama for state wars

22. How do you prepare for an upcoming competition? Describe each aspect that you focus on as you prepare for a competition.

- Most people would think preparing for a competition would be physical. Training harder than usual or eating or drinking some different but in my mind, it completely mental. I train just as hard as I usually do, eat and drink normally, but knowing I will get the weight up and not just hoping is the most important thing to me

23. Is there anything you will do differently to prepare for your next competition that is different from your last one?

- I will focus a little more on my dead lifting techniques

24. How many competitions do you compete in each year?

- I have only competed in one ever

25. What advice & tips would you give to a powerlifter that is just beginning? If you are just beginning, what advice have you received from other lifters or coaches?

- That lifting is 60% mind set and 40% strength and I totally agree

26. Has powerlifting had a big impact on your life? If so, how?

- I just started power lifting so it has completely taken over my life just yet

27. Do you stay in touch with lifters you compete against?

- Never have before but I’m not against it

28. What is your #1 or most prestigious meet you ever competed at in your career?

- Well I have only competed in one USAPL meet

29. Do you compete in any other strength sports such as Olympic lifting, strongman, highland games, etc?

- Nope

30. What is your favorite memory from any power lifting competition or event?

- Definitely my sophomore year when I benched over 315lbs for the first time

31. Do you see yourself still competing in ten years? If so, what are your goals for ten years from now?

- Probably not to be honest. By then I will be focusing more on losing weight and staying lean

32. Do you have any funny or interesting powerlifting stories that you can share with us?

- I know I’m boring but none that come to mind.

33. If we're sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great year it's been for you, what would be the reason?

- Graduating high school, winning my first ever USAPL meet, starting my life in college, and owning my first apartment.

34. Anyone you would like thank for helping you along the way in your Power lifting career?

- I would definitely like to thank my sister for pushing me to never settle for good enough and to always be striving to be stronger. Coach Pat Deagnan for pushing to be stronger and faster for football. And Coach Doug Huff for all the butt chewing and constructive criticism he gave me to make me better at everything I do sports related.

35. Is there anything else you would like to add?

- Power Lifting is a brand new sport to me and I have absolutely no experience lifting to lift as opposed to lifting to play football but it is a sport that has really caught my interest. I feel I have a lot of potential in the sport and I can not wait to see where I can go with it.

Thank you for your time and best of luck in your upcoming powerlifting endeavors!

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