People dressed in costumes gathered at the Gleason Family YMCA to show their strength in a Halloween Deadlift and Bench Press competition.

Twenty people attended the competition held Sunday, Oct. 13 at the YMCA and Personal Trainer and Aerobic Instructor Liz Pereira saw many contestants reach new personal records in both the deadlift and bench press.

Pereira said the event is for people of all ages and she wants to promote lifting at the YMCA for everyone, especially kids.

She explained she wants to promote lifting because she believes many kids that are already a part of the YMCA "feel more welcome" when they can lift there as opposed to lifting at a different gym.

Rochester resident Jack Herbert, dressed in a Venom costume, took home the best male lifter award while benching 330 pounds and deadlifting 550 pounds.

Fall River resident Sarah Hilton took home the award for best female lifter in a Wednesday Adams costume after she benched 155 pounds and deadlifted 365 pounds.

Colin Lennon from Plymouth was the competition’s youngest lifter at 13 years old and benched 125 pounds and deadlifted 225 pounds.

The competition’s oldest lifter was Onset resident Dan Brossi who benched 235 pounds at 64 years old.

The deadlift and bench press competition was the main event but there was also a cookie competition.

Fifteen people from the local area submitted homemade cookies to be taste tested by those at the event and Marion resident Tristan Besse won the competition with a chocolate chip pudding cookie.

Pereira explained the YMCA does a benchpress and deadlift competition every year but alternates between hosting it near Halloween and Christmas. The 2025 competition will be held near Christmas time.