The Glen Mills Power lifting team had a most successful season.  The Bulls chose "Strength thru Character" as their official slogan.

Maurice Bond and Ahmaud McDonald were the only two returning lifters on this years team.  However, there was a lot of enthusiasm as ninety-two Glen Mills students worked to leave their marks on the rich tradition of Glen Mills Power lifting.  Ed Infante, 148 lb, Ahmaud McDonald SHW and 275 lbs., Elijah Williams were elected captains of this year's squad.  The Bulls' first meet was the Junior National Championship on February 14th, held in Philadelphia.  Glen Mills took fifty-five lifters to this meet and narrowly defeated St. Marys of Maryland.

The next week, the Bulls went to Hellertown, Pennsylvania to defend the PA State Teenage Championships.  Glen Mills has won this meet 12 years in a row.  The team put on an awesome show of strength.  They hold 18 state teenage records and had 14 individual champions as they demolished the field en route to their 13th title.

Next up for the Bulls were the A.D.F.P.A National Championship held in Alexandria, Louisiana.  Alexandria had won five straight championships in the A.D.F.P.A.  The Bulls had won seven out of nine National Championships in either N.A.S.A. or U.S.P.F. meets.  The stage was set for great competition between two great teams.  Alexandria had a slim three point lead after the first day's events.  However, on the second day the four Glen Mills lifters took two firsts and two seconds to easily out-distance Alexandria.

Finally, Glen Mills lifters set their sights on winning the P.S.C.P.A. State High School Championships for the 13th consecutive year.  Glen Mills won nine out of the ten weight classes as they easily defeated the rest of the 15 team field.  The Bulls set 11 state records en route to their most impressive victory.

The Battling Bulls enjoyed their finest season and fielded their greatest team.  The members of this year's squad were committed to making their marks on the historic tradition of Glen Mills Power lifting.  They definitely achieved their goals.

The Glen Mills School has had a Power lifting team since 1982.  The school has enjoyed a rich tradition developed by quality teams and quality lifters.  Rich Arrington started the tradition when he became the schools first National Champion and along the way to winning many titles and seizing many records he totaled 1339 at 148 lbs.  This is a record that still stands today.

Marty Perkins continued the tradition as he became the schools first 700 lb. Dead Lifter and 1700 lb. Total Lifter.  He did this in the 220 lb. weight class.  Other great names have also surfaced during the last fifteen years of fielding a team.  Paul Oakes, Lamont Nickens, Tim Young, Carlton Ford and Demetrius Johnson have all been great lifters for Glen Mills.

It is rare that a student lifts three years for Glen Mills, however; during the past three seasons Ahmaud McDonald has done just that.  He has emerged as one of the very best power lifters Glen Mills has ever had.  As a Sophomore Ahmaud lifted in the U.S.P.F. National High School Championships.  Ahmaud won the Freshman-Sophomore division National Title with a 1,408 lb Total and a record 556 lb. Dead Lift.

Ahmaud has been a dedicated lifter during his three seasons.  He has never missed a workout.  During his junior year, Ahmaud set the school and state Dead Lift record with a 660 lb. effort.  Also, during his junior year Ahmaud went undefeated as he won the Pennsylvania State Teenage Championships.  The U.S.P.F. National High School Championship and the P.S.C.P.A. State High School Championships.  This year however was Ahmaud's best.  He posted the highest total ever by a Pennsyvlania High School Power lifter (1,755) in February with a State Teenage Championship victory.  He surpassed that with an A.D.F.P.A. National High School championship victory and a 1,770 Total.  He set all the National marks in the newly established 319 lb. weight class.  Ahmaud closed out his brilliant high school career when he became the first Pennsylvania high school student to total 1,800 lbs. as he won the Pennsylvania State High School Championships.  Ahmaud totaled 1,850 lbs. at this meet.  It is believed that Marcus Henry and Ahmaud McDonald may be the only two drug-free lifters to total over 1,800 lbs. in the history of high school Powerlifting.

Ahmaud was a 2nd team All-State Football player.  He played in the prestigious Big 33 Football game last summer.  He also was a Shot Put Champion with a best throw of 63 ft. 11-inches.  He will be attending Syracuse University this fall on a football scholarship.

Ahmaud McDonald's best lifts are as follows:

5/10/97 - Squat = 745 lbs. at
PA State H.S. Championship

5/10/97 - Bench = 410 lbs. at
PA State H.S. Championship

Deadlift = 710 lbs. at
A.D.F.P.A. National H.S.
Championships

5/10/97 - Total = 1,850 lbs.
PA State H.S. Championship