Benjamin Harwell NCW Open Meet Recap

My son Benjamin, competed in his first powerlifting meet on this last weekend June 27th 2026. At the NCW Open at OPS in Wenatchee, Washington. Benjamin is eleven. He competed in the 10-12T division, 52kg class, weighing in at 47.8kg.

Ben told me at the start of the year he wanted to compete in a powerlifting meet for his New Years Resolution. As a coach, I was really proud and knew we needed to start getting ready as soon as possible. As a Dad, I was worried, I was coached by my father and knew first hand at how hard fathers could be on their kids when coaching them and I didn’t want to make those same mistakes. 

We started training twice a week, enough to reinforce enough technique and build some strength but not too often that it would burn him out. I wanted him to be excited to come to the gym and train, and most importantly, he was doing this for himself and not to impress me.

The goal on meet day was to get an official total, push for small PRs if they were there and to have fun.

We opened squats with a conservative 35 kg. The second attempt at 42.5 kg was also good.   His Third attempt he went for 52.5 kgs a weight he had done in the gym a few times. I told him beforehand that I wanted him to listen to me for commands instead of the head ref. When he was given the start command he broke at his hips, then he heard me telling him to brace, so he stood back up, reset and then completed the lift. He was red-lighted for the lift but still completed the squat. I watched him walk off that platform with his shoulders slumped. He wanted that lift. He didn't get it, and he didn't know why. I pulled him aside, got down to his level and explained what happened. He was upset but it looked like he felt better and was ready for bench.

We knew Bench was going to be the toughest lift of the day. So we stayed as conservative as we could. We opened with 17.5, then 20 for a second attempt. The third attempt at 22.5 kg was just a little too much on the day and he lost it about half way up.

Deadlift is where he let it out a little. We opened with 57.5 kg, no problem. Second attempt 62.5 kg, another PR, and he pulled it with the kind of confidence I don't think he even knows he has yet. The third attempt at 67.5 KG which would have been a PR came up so fast off the floor he lost his balance and hitched the bar up to finish the lift. 

None of his three misses were just about strength. The squat was an experience issue, the kind more time under the bar will correct quickly. The bench was swinging at a number he wasn't ready for yet, and I knew it would be going in. The deadlift was a kid pulling a weight he's never held, harder than his technique could keep up with. But what I keep coming back to; He's eleven years old, and he stood on a platform and let grown adults judge his strength and his technique, in front of everyone, nine times, knowing he might miss. Most adults won't do that. I've had grown men talk themselves out of a meet because they were scared of exactly what Benjamin walked into, still scared, but with the courage of an experienced veteran to go out and just try. He found three gaps in his game in one afternoon, in front of judges, in front of a crowd, and he walked off proud of himself at the end of the day. He has worn his 2nd place medal every day since he earned it. That's the whole sport, right there. That's the thing I've spent years trying to teach grown adults, and myself, how to do. 

This isn't about me. It’s about Ben, but I couldn’t be more proud of this dude and the incredible man he’s growing into.