Jacob Keesee Interview
August 2013 - Jacob Keesee
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 Jacob Keesee, I am 17 years old, and I was born in Cumming, GA.
2. Where are you located in Georgia and where do you train at?
We are located in Cumming and I train in my basement at my house.
3. What are your hobbies (other than powerlifting)?
I play baseball and basketball, and enjoy playing my guitar.
4. If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only have 3 things, what would they be?
Pre-made Bacon, Water, and a Bible
5. Who is your role model and why?
It has to be my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because He is the ultimate example of unconditional love to everyone and ultimately set me free by His death on the cross.
6. What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I taught myself how to play the guitar, and on the day of a meet I do not listen to any type of alternative music to get pumped up I only listen to Christian rap and rock.
7. If you could ask anyone from history any question, who would it be and what would you ask?
I would ask Abraham Lincoln if I could high five him because of his awesome beard.
8. Is there anything about powerlifting you would like to change or wish was different?
The pause bench is a little bit different from how I’m used to maxing on bench, so if it wasn’t pause maybe that would make it less stressful.
9. What is your occupation? Does it interfere with competing or visa versa?
I’m still a high school student, so no occupation yet.
10. How did you get into powerlifting and how many years have you been competing?
My dad really pushed me to get a few of my buddies together to make a team, so I did and we have been competing for 2 years now.
11. Are you involved in powerlifting in any way besides as a competitor?
Not really, unless I’m yelling at my teammates while they lift.
12. What are your biggest squat, bench press, deadlift and total numbers?
My biggest squat is a 369, bench is a 248, deadlift is 424, and total is 1041.
13. What titles, records and achievements have you accumulated during your powerlifting career?
I hold the state records for squat, bench, deadlift, and total for the teenage 16-17 year old division in the 148 weight pound class.
14. Can you describe your training philosophy and/or a typical training session?
Our unofficial training philosophy is “Go Big or Go Home.” And a typical training session starts with 3 sets of 5 or 3 reps depending on how close we are to a meet on squat and bench, and then we go to what we call the torture machine, which is the leg press machine, and do 3 sets of 6 reps with maximum weight. Then we do an arms circuit with tricep push-downs, bar and dumbbell curls, close grip bench, dips, and abs. On deadlift day we do 3 sets of 5 or 3 reps and then do a back circuit with lat pull-downs and seated rows.
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?
I have competed both equipped with a squat suit and raw. I am in the 148 weight pound class and I compete in the teenage and open divisions.
16. What is your favorite lift, squat or bench press or deadlift or all three and why?
It has to be the deadlift because it is the last lift during a meet and you’re tired and it takes every bit of grit and determination that you have to dig in and try and blow out those last three attempts.
17. Who is the most impressive lifter you have competed against?
Brett Benedix
18. Who is your greatest rival?
Don’t really have one.
19. Who do you think is the greatest lifter of all time?
Sam Downey
20. When was your last competition & how did it go?
My last competition was last week at the Raw Nationals in Orlando, FL. I placed second in my weight class, but the rest of my teammates got first in theirs, and we got first for the male teenage team and got a big trophy so that was sweet.
21. Do you have any upcoming competitions? If so, when and where?
Our next competition is November 9th in Norcross.
22. How do you prepare for an upcoming competition? Describe each aspect that you focus on as you prepare for a competition.
The week before a meet we will have one workout where we go through the commands of every lift with little or no weight on the bar. This really helps me to get my mind focused on the task at hand come meet day to just focus on the commands and just do the best that I can do. Also, music helps me prepare for a meet. I usually start listening to my pump up music the day before a meet to just get my mind prepared and pumped and ready for the next day.
23. Is there anything you will do differently to prepare for your next competition that is different from your last one?
I might focus a little more on my squat, rather than my bench and deadlift.
24. How many competitions do you compete in each year?
However many my Dad tells us to.
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?
I would tell them to train hard and try to push themselves to their limits and then push past them, but then come meet time I would tell them to just enjoy it and not get too wrapped up in it because there will be other meets to come for them to try and set new Personal Records, so I would encourage them to just have fun being able to Powerlift.
26. Has powerlifting had a big impact on your life? If so, how?
It has had a big impact on my life because I’ve become so much more confident in myself, not just in lifting weights, but in other aspects of my life as well.
27. Do you stay in touch with lifters you compete against?
Not really
28. What is your #1 or most prestigious meet you ever competed at in your career?
I would say the Raw Nationals in Orlando, FL because I set new Personal Records for myself in the squat, bench, deadlift, and total.
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 powerlifting competition or event?
There are so many, but I would say being able to hang out with my teammates is more memorable than any of my lifts because we just have fun and enjoy the moment of being at a meet.
31. Do you see yourself still competing in ten years? If so, what are your goals for ten years from now?
I think I do, and my goal would be that I hopefully lift more weight than I do now.
32. Do you have any funny or interesting powerlifting stories that you can share with us?
Hahaha, nope not any that I can share haha.
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?
The reason would be that I just enjoyed another year with my teammates and hopefully set some new Personal Records.
34. Anyone you would like thank for helping you along the way in your Powerlifting career?
I would like to thank my Dad for really helping me start off my Powerlifting career and for pushing me every single day. He truly gives me confidence in myself when I can’t find any, and I just love him.
35. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you for your time and best of luck in your upcoming powerlifting endeavors!
