-
Tony Cardella - 275 lbs.
Ht:6'0"
Hometown:Conroe, Texas
Best Lifts:
SQ: 826 BP: 622 ; DL: 805 ; Total: 2243
If there was ever a prototypical model to build a powerlifter with, 275 lb. Tony Cardella would be it. With balanced lifts and a rock solid foundation built on years of competing, Tony has developed into one of the cornerstones of USA Powerlifting.
After a successful career in the Collegiate ranks that left him with 3 Collegiate National titles and a load of experience both Nationally and Internationally, in 2001 Tony stepped up to the plate to take on the USA's best at 275 lbs. The result was a success and a Mens Open National Title to add to his growing collection.
Today, he has captured 5 Mens National Championship Titles and has showed no signs of slowing down. Count on seeing big things from Tony Cardella at the 2007 Mens Nationals!
-
Years competing:
A: 12 Years
Gym you train at:
A: Steel Fitness in Houston, Texas
Q: Powerlifting Team
A: Team Quest (Quest Nutrition)
Prior sports background:
A: Soccer and baseball from as long as I can remember and then football in middle school and high school.
Q: What made you decide to compete in powerlifting?
A: I played football in high school and got into lifting for football then. When I got to my junior year, I found out I was pretty good compared to the other football players and most importantly, I enjoyed lifting. I remember walking down the hall from the weight room to the locker room and talking to a guy named Chip Kent. I distinctly remember telling him that "I wish there was a competion for squats." That's when he told me about powerlifting. The next day he showed up with a Powerlifting USA I could borrow. I finished my senior year of football and for the first time, in a long time, I didn't have a sport to compete in. I've played sports all my life, why stop now? I decided to give powerlifting a shot.
Q: At what point did you have the lightbulb moment and realize "Hey, I actually have a shot at being the National Champion"?
A: When I made it to college at Texas A&M in College Station, I found the team had pretty much fallen apart. I started trying to pull a team together and got quite a few of the members of the team to become active again. I lifted in my first ADFPA/USAPL meet at the 1997 Longhorn Open in Austin, Texas. That qualified me for Nationals. I didn't know how well I would do going into Nationals. During the course of the meet, I found out I was neck and neck with a lifter for LA Tech for the win. I had 675 on the bar for the win on my 3rd deadlift and picked it up but could not lock it out. I ended up losing on bodyweight. It was at that moment I realized that I had a very good shot at becoming a National Champion on the Collegiate level. Losing on bodyweight drove me to get better and the next year I came back and went 9 for 9 on the way to my first National title. Going after my first Mens Open title was a little different. I felt like I had considerable experience at that point with 3 Collegiate Nationals, 2 Junior Nationals, and 3 IPF Junior Worlds under my belt. I had been to the 1999 and 2000 Nationals to watch the lifting and meet people. Pat McGettigan was the top dog at 275 at the time, placed 3rd at the 2000 Worlds and had a good deadlift. I was totalling a little less than him at time, but I thought I had a great shot at it.
Q: Tell us about your profession: what do you do for a living?
A: I work as a software developer. It's kind of a weird mix of lifting and computers, but I think it provides a good balance.
Q: Give us some idea of the types of struggles or hardships you've had to endure in your training…or life.
A: Knotted up muscles, tendonitis, muscle strains, high blood pressure.
Q: What are the most extreme conditions you've had to go through in training?
A: I went through a period of time when I didn't have any training partners. So I was begging and pleading to get people to help me out. For awhile I was driving all over Houston and College Station to train when the gym I was training at suddenly went belly up right before the 2001 Men's World Championships.
Q: Tell the readers what your daily meals consist of as the contest gets closer.
A: Usually it's a high protein/low carb kind of approach. My bodyweight usually runs high and I have to cut down.
Q: Now tell us all of the foods you'll eat in the weeks after the Mens Nationals
A: Blue Bell mint chocolate chip ice cream and burritos from Freebird's!
Q: The all-time best meal you've ever had: where was it and what was it?
A: I don't know if I could pick an all-time best meal I've ever had. Mom always cooks some good food. Freebird's and the local sushi place are great.
Q: You are stranded on an island: What CD, book, food and drink would you have with you
A: Good question...I can't decide because I'm really trying to figure out what would be needed for survival...
Q: When not lifting, what are your hobbies?
A: Programming, computer games, walking the dogs, learning more about the world around us.
Q: People would never guess this about you:
A: I had surgery when I was a sophmore in high school for a septic hip.
Q: You are not too ashamed to admit in high school you used to:
A: Not be popular, not a great football player, and incredibly shy.
Q: What type of intensity can we expect to see from you once the bell rings and the fight to keep your title has begun?
A: While I may not be the most vocal or have a big elaborate psyche up routine, I am a great technician. Look for a solid, relentless, balanced lifting performance...
Q: People you would like to thank who have had a hand in your success:
A: My dad, Mike & Eric Heckman, Rob Kamman, Ed Coan, Larry Maile, Sherman Ledford, Christy Newman, Wade Hooper, and everyone else I've trained with or been coached by over the years.
Q: Single most life changing experience:
A: I would have to say beginning powerlifting because now I don't know where I would be if I didn't have the experiences that I've had, met the people I've met, or learned what I've learned through powerlifting.
Offical Sponsors for the 2007 Mens Nationals
