Locals Take Part In State Championship

Two area residents recently competed at the United States Power Lifting Association’s state championship in Little Rock.

75 year old Bill “Grizz” Taylor and 25 year old Kolten Ortiz participated in the event earlier this month. Both individuals competed in the bench press event with Ortiz reaching 315 pounds and Taylor hitting 243. In the process, Taylor set state and national records at the event along with an unofficial world record.

This month’s competition was the first for Ortiz who has been lifting weights nine years.

Taylor became interested in weight lifting while attending Mineral Springs High School in 1956. His first competition came nine years later. In 1991 and 1992 Taylor was a national winner and represented the United States in competitions that took place in Russia, Sweeden and Finland.

Taylor and Ortiz were sponsored by Flex Gym during the state event this month.