Seventy-one and still getting it done

Aberdeen powerlifter proves to be a crowd favorite at competition

By Jake Nordbye, Journal correspondent | Sunday, November 16, 2008

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RAPID CITY — As former USA powerlifting champion Jerry Ochs prepared to squat lift 265 pounds a hush came over the crowd at the Rapid City

YMCA. Ochs unhitched the bar and squatted until he was in position for a clean lift. He then burst up with a slight grimace on his face before finally locking his knees for a completed lift. As cheers rang through the gymnasium it was apparent Ochs is a crowd favorite.

Ochs, 71, has been weight training for over 50 years, since he was stationed in Okinawa, Japan in 1957. He has been power lifting competitively since 1966.

“I was on the basketball team and I never played,” said Ochs. “So one day I was sitting on the bench and I saw these guys coming out of a room, and they were built. So I went up there to check it out and the rest is history.”

Ochs was inducted into the Amateur Athletic Union South Dakota Hall of Fame in 1979. He has won the USA power lifting masters national championship six times, and broke four national meet records in 2003. He was also named the AAU athlete of the year in 1976.

“I’ve been fortunate to have some success,” said Ochs. “But I love the competitive aspect. I like getting out here and competing with guys from all over. Each place I go to, I meet new people and I run into old friends. I can go into the locker room and shake hands with every guy in there and I know them by first name. One reason I do this is for the camaraderie.”   

Ochs traveled to Rapid City from his home in Aberdeen for the 2008 USA Powerlifing Dakota Open. Contestants competed in three events — bench press, squat, and dead lift. He competed in the 165-pound weight class. 

"There are many of reasons I still do this,” Ochs said. “One of them is for health. There are so many health benefits to weight training.”  

When asked how much longer he plans to keep powerlifting the response was immediate.

“I plan to do this until I can’t,” he said. “Age is a state of mind, you just never know, my father was in the nursing home doing exercises at the age of 92 and he got around pretty good. I feel good and as long as I feel good I’m going to keep doing it.”