How old are you?
28
Where were you born?
Lake Charles, LA I grew up in Sulphur, LA.
Where do you live now?
Baton Rouge, LA
How did you end up there?
I was asked to walk on to the track team at LSU. Once I started college it is where I have decided to stay.
What do you drive?
Dodge RAM 1500 HEMI GO!!!! It is a company truck.
What size shoe do you wear?
Despite
lying to myself during high school and wearing a size 15, I think I
thought that if I had big shoes I would eventually get taller and grow
into them. I wear a 13 now.
Have you gone green?
I use a reusable water bottle, but other than that probably not.
What do you think about global warming?
HA
Do you recycle?
No where I live we do not have recycling bins if we did I would though.
What do you do for a living?
I
do outside sales for an Industrial hardware and distillation internal
manufacturer. So what I actually do is sell specialized hardware to the
petro chemical industry. I travel quite a bit since my sales area is
described best as not Texas.
How did you get into that?
I
worked for another company doing work in the refineries, then started
doing sales for them. After that the company my brother was working for
was looking for an outside sales guy. They offered the job I took it.
So basically nepotism.
Tell us about your education?
Graduated from LSU where I studied to be a general.
As a kid growing up, what was your first job?
I worked at a pet shop in middle school.
When you grew up as a kid, what sports did you play?
Pretty much everything available soccer, baseball, football, basketball and track in middle school.
Did you throw in high school and if so what did you throw?
In
high school I threw shot and discus. I was bad at discus throwing
about 100’-110’ if I remember. Shot was different I threw 59’11.75” and
won two state championships.
Tell us about throwing in college.
Throwing
in college was a lot of fun. I wish I would have been as focused on it
as I am now. I had a couple issues with coaches that I did not mesh
with. Other than that it was great experience. Our team won 4 national
championships while I was there. I learned a lot about training and
throwing.
Talk about your brother and his throwing.
It
has been great over the last five years getting a chance to compete
with and against him. Whether it was strongman or Highland games it has
been great. We are very close and talk everyday for the most part.
While growing up we were never on the same teams since he was 4 years
older. He got out of HS before I started.
Tell some about Andy’s competing and what he does and his influence on you.
Andy
has taken great to the games. He is a lot of fun to train with when we
get the chance. Getting a chance to work with him while I was doing
Strongman was fun. I knew due to previous injuries that I was not going
to be able to get where I wanted in that sport. While training for
strongman three years ago, that is what really sparked my interest again
as an adult in strength sports. He has been great motivation and
always been a great influence for me. We did our first games together
and we have been hooked since.
The games have been a change for us since right now I am throwing better than him. I think this is the 1st
time in our sports career that I have been better than him in what we
are doing. I am glad I have a couple hundred thousand throws reps to
fall back on. He will get it all together and be a great thrower as
well, I just have to take this time to make as big a gap as possible.
What was your first Highland Game and when was that?
Jackson, LA. In November of 2008.
Who was at that game?
It was the North vs. South game. I think you were, Kay Cummings, Keven Dupuis, Jeremy Gillingham, and plenty of others.
What made you decide to try and compete at a game?
It was a natural path as a thrower but just like strongman I had no idea it was as available to compete like it is.
What is your favorite event?
Open Stone
What is a common mistake you see people make in that event?
The number one thing is people not using a left side block.
Talk about your game day shoes.
Ok
well I am a bit of a gear junkie. This is a carryover from my days of
Powerlifting and Strongman. So I think in my box I have hammer boots,
javelin boots (these are for all the distance events and sheaf), and I
use weightlifting shoes for WOB. I also carry throwing shoes as well as
soccer cleats. I hate not having everything I want.
Talk about using gloves.
I
use a simple leather glove from Lowes. The biggest difference in the
games for me using it or not was the amount of volume I can handle with
it versus without. I like to take a lot of training throws and
warm-ups. Consistent repetition is what helps me get better. For
example it is not uncommon for me to take 40 HWFD throws a week during
the season. Without the glove my hook grip kills my thumb. Using tape
helps but even then it is just not great I will lose a thumb nail every
games without it.
What is your worst event and what have you don’t to bring it up?
Hammer
and Caber for sure are the biggest hole in my game. To fix it I am
spending a ton of time working both events. I also built a caber this
off season. Like I said I need the repletion on implements to get good
at them.
Who were the first people to influence and coach you in the sport?
There
is a local guy who does strongman Mark Cummings and he was the guy who
originally got me into both games. He had equipment and some of the
basic ideas down.
Talk some about throwing games as an amateur, what games you did and where.
I
like to compete and for the last two years have done 15+ games a
season. I have competed in lots of different places. Here are some of
the states I have thrown in over the last two years: PA, TX, NC, GA,
FL, CA, WA, NH, MN, OK, NE, TN and I know I am missing something. I
travel a lot for work so I try to catch games while also out on the road
where ever I am.
What were your favorite amateur games?
The
amateur world championships in MN were great games both years I had the
chance. Pleasanton was lots of fun as well and legendary. Loch Norman
is a lot of fun as well. Enumclaw however is probably my favorite. I
love throwing off that surface in throwing shoes. Iron thistle is a
great game in OK. All of the TX games were amazing, we were really
lucky to have well run games and a Super A class the whole time I have
been competing. Over the last three years if you can win in TX you can
win anywhere. I also really enjoyed the Maryville games in TN.
But my favorite is probably Enumclaw and Pleasanton.
Do you have any game or lifting rituals?
As
a thrower in college I have some repetitive moments that I do. For
example on Stones I kick the toe board with my left foot before each
throw and look at the sector. This is habit from college. As far as
anything else I have purposely work really hard on getting rid of
anything major since things can change so much game to game.
The
only note able competition ritual for me is having my toenails
painted. I have been doing this since college and it has always
worked. I don’t argue it.
Talk about some of the pro games you have done and your favorites.
Well
I am a new pro so I only have two “pro contest” under my belt. I will
consider Enumclaw a pro contest as well though I just happened to
qualify for it. I have spoke about how much I love Enumclaw. With that
said the IHGF World Championships in NH were great. I have wanted to
compete at Loon Mtn since I was just doing Strongman. So getting a
chance to throw there was really an honor some amazing athletes have
done battle on that field.
Second place at the worlds your first year pro, tell how that feels.
It
has been a lot of fun. I am glad that I got the opportunity through
the IGHF Amateur Worlds to get a shot at the big dance. That game
really was perfect for me. I was in a great position to come in and
succeed. Being new and my first pro games some people may have had some
nerves or felt pressure on them. After talking a bit with Mike
Pockoski it really cleared my head. It was clear that no matter where I
finished people were going to be impressed. So I went out and threw
hard with nothing to lose. I came in second and the points at the end
make it look closer than it ever felt with Dan. I have always been a
gamer and want to compete with the best. Dan was the man all last year
and that was the 1st time I got to share a field with him or
meet him. I now know where I stand in regards to all the top guys,
there is no room to make mistakes at that level.
Talk about being explosive, is there anything you think others can do to make that happen for them. In other words tell me how I can be that way.
One
of the old mantras I have always heard was squat for strength and jump
for speed. I do bounding as well as spend one of my training days doing
Olympic movements.
Who do you enjoy competing with and why?
I
always love getting to throw with my brother. I am so happy this is
something we can share as men. It always brings me back because we are
typically talking trash and making fun of each other like we are kids.
He is my favorite that I want at every game.
Let me mention some names and you comment on them;
Overfelt; He
set me straight day one about how the pro class was going to work.
Also he is a jokester and a ton of fun to be around all day.
Betz; Sean, is one the most knowledgeable guys out there. He has always been there for me to bounce ideas off of.
Bogue; Really don’t know the guy personally just of him. Legend
C. Smith; What
can I say Craig is great. He has been my go to guy for opinions on
training and the game of being a pro thrower. He is always very
supportive as well.
Valenti; Strong
dude. I look forward to getting to throw with him more next year. I
have always enjoyed competing and sharing the field with fellow meat
heads and getting him, Craig, and KO together at Stone Mtn this year was
a riot. I was just trying to keep up with the talk on that field.
There is nothing I love more than hanging out and being ruthlessly made
fun of and dishing it back out.
Zilstra; Really don’t know the guy personally just of him. Legend
Poke; Really don’t know the guy personally just of him. Legend
Dan; Is
something else. I appreciate everything he does. He is also possibly
the nicest guy I have ever met. He is the real deal strength wise and
throwing. He is the guy to beat right now. He is also as genuine with
everything he does as he could be.
Talk about some of the throws, games and moments you are most proud of.
Throwing
60’4” in the open stone at Worlds was big for me. I have been chasing
that number a long time. I never threw 60’ in college or high school.
Now that the door past 60’ is open I need to keep chasing Oldfield. All
though coming through in the caber is probably my best performance.
Talk about training and your philosophy in the area of throwing?
Training
gets over thought a lot. I have had the chance to train with a ton of
talented guys pro strongmen, powerlifters, throwers, and just great meat
heads I respect. When it boils down to it there is no magic bullet or
hidden key. It is consistency and hard work. All strength sports are
the same they require strong back, legs, shoulders, arms, and hips.
This
is nothing new I am not a unique snowflake. A healthy serving of heavy
squatting, pulling, pressing both overhead and bench are the keys to
strength. Everything else is built to make you better at those things.
The only difference that changes when it comes to training to throw is
remembering all of the lifts are accessories to throwing. To get better
at throwing you have to spend a ton of time throwing. The strength you
pick up in the weight room will not translate into distance if you are
technically bad at throwing.
When you peak for a game, how do you structure your week prior to that game?
Peaking
for a games for me consist of backing off the weights. I change to
some light lifting 4 days a week really only a main lift for some quick
doubles, then go and throw. I throw up until Thursday the week of
competition and then back off Friday and compete Saturday. We threw all
the time in college and this is no difference. If something big is
coming up say for Worlds I will back off a couple extra days.
Talk about then how you structured your week in season with no game that week.
I
am a 3 day lift and 3 days throwing. Some days I do both. It is day 1
squat/bench, day 2 Overhead/Deadlift, and day 3 is clean/snatch. I
like having my more explosive movements at the end of the week. I will
throw on the weekend regardless of games or not.
Tell us about some of the injuries you had as an athlete.
Well
I have had all of the minor stuff but that is just aches and pains.
The only major is ACL tear during college. I have had reconstruction on
it, but since have retorn it. I do not plan on having surgery again
for this knee unless I Pulcinella it. I have been really lucky with
major injuries. Something is always tender or hurting, but that is part
of the game. I have always believed that if you are training hard you
are riding a fine line of healthy and hurt.
Who makes you laugh at games now?
I
love laughing so it doesn’t take much. I love the “ball busting” that
comes with this crowd. That type of constant picking always makes me
laugh.
Did you know there was a masters guy who wore pink way back in 2003 at the MWC in Springfield?
I did not, I bet he drops bombs. No more pink this year. I am changing my color scheme. I hope it still looks as ridiculous.
What training philosophy do you follow in the gym?
Listen
to your body not the newest fads. Strength training has always
revolved around big multi-joint lifts. These are your bread and
butter. Do those 3-4 days a week for a decade and you will get where
you are going. Strength training is something I love and will always
will.
When did you start lifting weights and what got you started?
I
started in high school for football. We had a serious strength
training program in high school, though misguided it taught me the
fundamentals of the basic lifts. It also told me how to work hard and
push myself past where the body wants to stop.
What lift is your favorite and what is your best?
I
love squatting. Well as much as you can love squatting it is a
love/hate thing. Squatting for me is the best lift there is. It is a
full body lift and always leaves me trashed. I have puked many times
from squatting heavy. No one ever puked form benching or curls.
What do you like to do outside of the games?
The
games are my hobby that and training. Other than that I love
traveling. I want to experience as much as I can from food to different
cultures. My job allows me to get this travel bug I have kept pretty
well at bay.
What other hobbies do you have?
Meeting
some of the people I respect in world of strength and Iron and talking
with them one on one. In the world of the internet you can read
everything someone has ever written. I personally want to get to talk
to them and see what makes them tick. I don’t want to talk about what
it would be like to train with someone or somewhere I want to know what
that is like.
What is your favorite food?
This
is tough for me. My love affair with food has gone on much longer than
my attraction to lifting. I will list a couple of my favorite things
from traveling. I love sandwiches and the best thing I have found in
the country is in Lake Charles, LA. It is the Darrel’s Special. This
sandwich is roast beef, ham, turkey covered in gravy, two types of
cheese, and bread that could not have any more butter in it. Also the
home made Jalapeno Mayo is a must. I have eaten a ton of different
things from poboys in NOLA, cheese steaks in philly, and beefs in
Chicago. Darrel’s is the best and it is not even close.
I
love hot dogs as well and Hot Doug’s in Chicago is the best. Steaks in
Philly from this place down the street in Glenolden PA from Iron Sport
this place kills all the other more famous spots.
But
if I was going to die and had to pick my last meal it would possibly be
a never ending plate of pot roasted Teal with dirty rice made with
hearts and livers. I wish I had a trap door I could open in my stomach
so I could just continue driving it into me.
What is a favorite dessert for you?
My
favorite of all time is glass of milk and Oreos or Chips-ahoy reduced
fat (they absorb milk better) Chocolate chip cookies and nesquick
chocolate milk. I purposely don’t have these in my house because I will
eat them till they are all gone. I mean all of it all the cookies in a
pack.
At your house do you cook on the grille?
Almost daily I eat more than, fifteen chicken breast a week. I also love simple steak and potatoes.
What supplements do you take?
I
have been lucky enough to get sponsored by the supplement company
USPLabs. They send me a ton of stuff. I searched them out after using
their pre-workout product Jack3d for a couple years. I take Protein
from Conquest Nutrition it works great for me as a meal replacement
Talk about drugs you use, and I don’t mean steroids. I mean anti inflames or something prior to training to get up.
Again
Jack3d mixed with Modern BCAA by USPLabs has been the best for me for a
long time. I went to them for sponsorship because I was using these
products and figured it couldn’t hurt to ask. They have turned me onto a
fantastic joint supplement Super Cissus it helps strengthen and rebuild
connective tissue. I take regular stuff like fish oil, flax seed oil,
and Aleve. Also fiber is a must for all athletes and people; I care
enough about this that I wrote my first article on it. The only thing
out of normal is I take an absurd amount of Vitamin C about 12,000 mg a
day. I read some stuff on it and have since started taking it. I like
the results I have seen. Vitamin C boost immune function and keeps your
body healthy we do not get near what we need from food, so I supplement
this.
What do you drink with a meal at home?
It is rare for me to drink anything but water. I pound about 2 gallons a day.
Do you live in a house, apartment or ?
I have a house I bought in 2006.
Tell us about the rest of your family.
I
got married in December of 2010. Her name is Ashley and I have no idea
what I would do without her. She is great and tremendously supportive
in all of this. I also have two dogs Sunday (chocolate lab) and Zombie
(mutt looks like German Sheppard but small, typical mutt).
Talk about the impact of traveling to all the games and dealing with that in regard to work and family.
As
far as work goes it has not really been an issue I will try and do
games that I can drive to and work my way there and home after. I am on
the road a lot about 5-7thousand miles a month without games. Like I
said before I have been very lucky and my wife supports the games. She
knows that I am a wonderer by nature and need to run occasionally for a
change of scenery.
What faith do you follow?
Do you like to garden?
My
wife does occasionally but I think she does it just to take out her
rage on plants. If there ever was a serial killer for plants she would
be it. Slowly searching them out at stores only to take them home and
torture them and kill them slowly of thirst.
Do you mow your own grass or do you have a man?
I mow my own grass. It is one of my least favorite things to do even though it takes less than an hour to do all of it.
Are you a cat or dog person?
Dog though we both want a hairless cat. They are so awful looking I think it would be neat to have roaming the house.
Are you conservative or liberal in your politics?
I think both side pretty much screw it up and there is less difference between them. I am Libertarian.
Are you into Astrology? What sign are you?
Are you superstitious? Or a Stevie Wonder fan?
Not
terribly superstitious at all I can manage to do with the flow, but
like when things fall into our normal routine at home. Stevie Wonder?
Yes please. I got a chance to meet him two years ago in Los Angeles, I
ran into him and his security team at the movies. I know that is weird I
thought the same thing. “Why is he at the movies?” Concert sure but
movies are visual thing. I know I feel the same way but you are not
going to not meet Stevie Wonder given the chance.
Talk about some of the music you listen to at different times.
I
am all over the map on this one. I am currently listening to Say
Anything. It is probably my favorite band of all time. Also for just
listening Florence and the Machine, Radio Head, Alkaline Trio, Adele,
Tim Barry, Queen, David Bowie, and Prince.
However
I listen to lots of rap and metal while training. Current lifting
favorites are Childish Gambino, Kanye West & Jay-Z, King Fantastic,
and Lil Wayne as far as rap. Metal would be Every Time I Die, Red Fang,
Sleep, The Bled, High on Fire, Electric Wizard, and Refused
Where do you like to go out to eat?
I love Mexican food anywhere I can get it or Sushi.
What do you like to watch on TV?
Currently
I am watching The League, Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Layover, No
Reservations, Archer, and Top Gear (BBC not the awful dribble they try
and pass off on the American version.)
Some all time favorite shows are The Shield, Party Down, Trailer Park Boys, The Wire, and Boardwalk Empire.
Are you a western movie or sci fi person? Tell a favorite.
I
like both. All of the old westerns are great not Will Rodgers old but
Spaghetti Westerns. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is a great piece of
film. As far as sci-fi goes love Zombie stuff. All time
favorite has to be 28 days later. It is great from start to finish. My
favorite genre is definitely Horror and there are too many great ones
to mention.
What are the goals for this year?
I want to win both Celtic and Worlds. I can make up other goals but honestly those are the two things I think about the most.
Thank you brother.