HardCore Gym # 67
(A WI gym with a funny name!)
Last month we trained high (8200 feet high) with Anita & Curtis, and we also answered a Q about the Covert Gym. The Covert Gym made me think of a gym with one of their core group in jail on parole violation. Plus, it has a wacky name (gotta love that cheese-head sense-of-humor!) so we had to talk about it!! Here's a little of the straight scoop from WI gym owner Scott Wahl:
If you are interested in a hardcore gym to feature, you may be interested in mine. Menomonie Fitness Center (the name sucks, but I'll explain later) is located in northwest Wisconsin. Originally known as the "Muscle Mill". I bought it in 2000, and made a few improvements since. I was forced to change the name and do all the other improvements to maintain business, especially with all the 24-hour fag gyms popping up. Did I say fag gyms?, maybe I meant gay gyms. If I could have stayed in business with just the meatheads lifting to loud music it would have been great. We have all the necessities though, bands, chains, boards, Metal Militia bench, blah, blah, blah. Our current and former members are what make us stand out though:
Menomonie Fitness Center, aka "Muscle Mill" was founded in 1995, in downtown Menomonie WI. The original owner was then ranked in the top 20 in the 242lb class with a bench in the mid 500lb range. He was also the first of 3 consecutive Mr. Wisconsin's who called the Muscle Mill home. I purchased the gym in 2000, after my first visit there. It is my type of gym, tons of free weights (over 10,000 lbs as a matter of fact) steel reinforced deadlift platform, squat racks, plenty of benches, dumbbells to 120lbs, a true lifters gym. It is by far one of the best equipped weight-training types of gym in northwest Wisconsin.
Since the purchase I added a great deal of more equipment, and changed the name to Menomonie Fitness Center in order to attract a larger variety of members. (Note: That name must be really good for attracting Scrabble Champions! Rick) It would be awesome to cater only to the hardcore lifters, but that won't pay the bills. (Note: this is the sad truth!! I used to run a gym, and the "Hard-Core" guys destroy everything we touch, bargain for cheaper rates, and cost $$$ at every turn. Meanwhile, the cardio-housewives join at full price, pay their bills on time, and never darken the gym doorway to use any electricity. Every gym needs 100 soccer moms to pay the bills!! Rick) I also just added a full service tanning salon on the top level to increase income, as the 24 hour f** gyms have arrived in this area as well. Over the years we have accumulated everything a power lifter would need, bands, boards, chains, good music system, chalk stands, power bars, a full line of Hammer Strength machines, and a very cool Metal Militia bench from Bill Crawford.
Our past members include the one and only Andy Fiedler, a great guy and an awesome bencher. I remember one day I'm sitting at the front desk and I can hear someone downstairs warming up on the deadlift platform. After awhile, I hear a very loud crash, and I literally run downstairs to start yelling at what I thought would be some punk dropping the bar to the platform. Here is this beast called Fiedler repping 7 plates a side, what a sight. Another past member is Sue Grohn, who holds a NASA 3 lift Women's world record total in Masters 40-49, 181lb weight class. And as I mentioned earlier, 3 consecutive Mr. Wisconsin's from 1999-2001.
Currently our Sunday morning bench crew consists of: Bill Pechmiller, a truly world class lifter who just completed a 725 bench at 227lbs, using a borrowed, ill fitting shirt. That's an incredible 44 lbs over triple bodyweight. He also did an 815lb bench off 2 boards with ease. In the past years I've known him he has only been beat for best lifter twice, to my knowledge. (Note: WOW. Get him into a new BP shirt asap and the look-out!! Rick) Once, Bill was beaten by Andy Fiedler (he later broke that record at 40 lbs less bodyweight) and another time when he had an injury. I believe Bill stills holds a NASA American squat record from years ago, and I have never seen him squat before. (Question: why did he quit squatting?! Rick) He could be a true world contender if he could ever train on a regular basis. (are you listening Bill?) Rick "Buzzsaw" Fuchs, current Minnesota state APF bench only record holder and PL Magazine's top 100 with an awesome bench of 560lb at 217lbs. He will soon be over 600lbs, an incredible feat for someone over 6' tall. Matt Sias, a 242lb mid 400 bencher, soon to be known as the fat guy (all I have to do is lose 10lbs and the title is all his!). Matt will soon be a 500lb bencher as well. Ron DeLisi is kind of like the leader of the group. We need him in order for us all to stay focused and keep the correct order when working out (you know how old guys are) Ron's a 500 plus lifter, not bad for a 220lb, 47 year old. Waylon Butler is the youngest and the comedian of the group. A 400lb plus bencher, he usually shows up late for every workout. His excuse? "I met this chick last night and ended up stayin' at her place" ….every time. At one meet there was a well known ex-Viking lineman that was competing. Waylon proceeded to ask him if he was any good at football, with a totally straight face. Lucky he didn't get killed. (Wack!!) Mark Ealey is currently serving time for a parole violation. Mark is fairly new to the group, but you wouldn't know it by the weights he's lifting. Mark had never trained using boards before, and he bested most of us his first time training with us. According to his brother Mike (also a great member and ultimate fighter) Mark has been lifting every day in prison. He was already benching over 400lbs raw before, so it's safe to assume that we will be even more scared of him when he gets out, which should be very shortly. Austin Klatt, another mid 400lb bencher at 198lbs with huge potential. That leaves me, Scott Wahl, the "fat" guy (240lbs at 40 years old, who are they calling fat?) who managed a 500lb bench for an APF Master Minnesota bench only record.
It's a very unique gym. Most of the people who work out here are very serious about results, from the female members, to the students from the nearby university, whether they are hardcore lifters or not.
Scott, the gym sounds way cool, but I have NO IDEA how the name sounds - cause none of us here in Texas can pronounce it! We'll stick with "Muscle-Mill" cuz we can say that! But our 10-gallon cowboy hats are way off to you for crafting a great home for HardCore lifters!! The core crew is the main thing needed for a gym to succeed, and we like the sound of your lifting crew!
Next month we'll have to break stride by looking at a gym with a MUCH easier name to pronounce. It only has one letter in the whole gym-name. Count that up on your thumb!
Lift big, live well, and tell me something funny that happened in your gym!
Rick@houseofpain.com
HOUSE OF PAIN
P.O.Box 333
Fate, TX 75132
Sidebar insert: (From recent email)
Rick, your Q/A in old issue of PLUSA was entertaining to read. The best thing is that it was "real world s*#t!" We have only one gym in our little town. They don't allow chalk and they don't like yelling. So, if I trained there (I don't) I would have to approach my 600 pound squat like a Jehovah witness walking up to a beat up house with a ripped screen door and a ‘Beware Of Dog' sign in the window.
I do have access to the State College, where my friend is the strength coach. He is a HardCore Maniac! But for his job's sake - he also has to accommodate all varsity-level athletes - so he asks me to get my training done before 25 members of the swim team come in to lay on the floor and do 20 minutes of flutter kicks. Thanks, Tom
Thanks for that visual Tom!! The lesson, class - is that we should all just be thankful that we don't have wet ugly male swimmers wearing Speedo's on the floor of our training areas!! Later, Rick
