Tom Piscopo, a senior at Pace High School, is on track to break a state weightlifting record in his 154 weight class. He’s broken the state record, in clean and jerking 320 lbs. by 15 lbs. although it won’t be official until he breaks the same record at an upcoming state weightlifting competition on April 17th.
“Right now I have the regional record that I set last year of 285 (lbs) in the clean and jerk,” Piscopo said. “That is just one of my warm ups (weights) right now.”
Piscopo continues to reign as undefeated since his sophomore year. His success led to his recruitment in Olympic weightlifting, which is now his main focus. Piscopo was invited to Northern Michigan University by the university’s weightlifting coach Vance Newgard. NMU is an official U.S. Olympic training site.
Piscopo visited NMU twice for training, he plans to attend the university following his high school tenure at PHS.
His drive to success stems from middle school, when Piscopo weighed under 100 lbs. Piscopo said he wanted to get out of band and get on the football team, which is when he was introduced to a weight room.
“Once I picked a bar in the weight room, I was like ‘I like this’,” he said. “From there I started to learn techniques.”
In addition to learning different weightlifting techniques, Piscopo also said he picked up healthy diet and sleeping habits.
PHS weightlifting coach Mickey Lindsey said he is very proud of what Piscopo has accomplished.
“To do what he has been doing in clean and jerks… it’s unbelievable, it’s a great accomplishment,” Lindsey said. “He has got it down to a science.”
Although PHS has multiple state champions in weightlifting, Lindsey − who has served as the school’s weightlifting coach and football coach for the past 24 years − said Piscopo’s knack for continuing to raise the bar in weightlifting is something special.
“I don’t think we have one with a record of breaking records,” Lindsey said. “He is unique in that regard.”
Not only has Piscopo found success in weightlifting, he has also maintained a high 4.67 grade point average.
Piscopo credits maintaining his good grades to his parents.
“My parents have set the standard,” he said. “I have never been allowed to make anything less than a B.”
Although his main priority is weightlifting right now, Piscopo is interested in pursuing a degree in biochemistry at NMU.
Piscopo plans to open the state competition at clean and jerking at 320 lbs. and continue to raise the bar.
“I plan on hitting 360 (lbs) or more,” he said. “I want to go ahead and send a message.”
VIDEO:
To view video of Tom Piscopo’s weightlifting meets and a scene from “Ben-Hur” a film favorite which serves as an inspiration for Piscopo, visit his Youtube Channel at http://bit.ly/18SBg55
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Weightlifting: PaceÂ’s Piscopo aims to break state record in weightlifting