With a jump to the college ranks awaiting him, West Forsyth’s Ben Emert has been working hard to increase his strength.

It seems to be paying off, as the senior took the region power lifting championship for his weight class Saturday, combining to lift 1,300 pounds in three events.

Coach Gary Sylvestri accompanied a group of West lifters, including Emert, to the event, which was held at Lambert.

“Ben had combined lifts of 1,300 lbs., which is amazing for power lifting. He benched 350 pounds. (with a strained pectoral muscle), cleaned 375 pounds (which may be an unofficial tie for the state record) and he squatted 575 pounds,” Sylvestri wrote in an e-mail.

Emert said he spends four days a week working out with coach Jim Bishop. Before the competition, he weighed in around 232, but dropped just enough to fall into the 206-225 pound class for the meet.

“It’s been going great [with my workouts]. I’m definitely getting stronger,” said Emert, who has signed with Wake Forest.

With a strained right pectoral, Emert had to fight for his win, but still managed to build a lead of about 100 pounds heading into the third and final event of the day. His squat and clean lifts were both personal records.

“It affected me. I just put it out of my mind, and I just lifted enough to win my event,” Emert said of the strained chest muscle.

Emert now advances to the state championships in Hawkinsville March 20. The top three finishers in each region weight class advance to the event.

Having tied the state record in power clean, he now is aiming to break the record.

Other successful local lifters were Lambert's Rob Morin (4th, 140 pounds and under), Brock Maxwell (5th, 151-160 pounds), Nick Croft (4th, 181-190 pounds) and Christian Ezcurra (6th, 226-245 pounds); and North Forsyth's Nick Saponara (5th, 181-190 pounds) and Kyle Rappenecker (4th, 226-245 pounds).