Team Ogre

01/30/2019

Let's make it happen people. Did you vote? Did you vote now? Do it!

Vote for your favourite athlete to be the IWGA Athlete of the Year 2018!

02/28/2017

♦️♦️TEAM OGRE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT♦️♦️

Well hello Wes Garner! You're the next Ogre in the spotlight! Wes, now 18, came into the Ogre Compound for the first time 3 years ago as a quiet young fella in high school and immediately picked up the nickname "Young Wes." The nickname has since evolved into "Junior." Sometimes we, the rest of the team, forget that he's only 18 years old! Most high schoolers spend their mornings before school catching extra zzzzz's but not this guy. He spent most mornings of his senior year in the gym lifting heavy weights before changing and running off to school. He has since graduated from Mount Juliet High School, is taking welding classes at TCAT, works at Lowes, and still trains early in the morning as a powerlifter.

Junior has competed several times, most recently at the SPF TN State meet in January where he went 9 for 9 and totaled 1080 in the 198lb 18-19 yr old division. He plans to compete again sometime this summer.

Favorite Lift: Deadlift
Favorite Accessory: Lats & traps
Best Squat at 198: 402
Best Bench at 198: 260
Best Deadlift at 198: 418

Junior has a goal to total over 1200 in the 198 division. He also wants to squat & pull 500 one day and bench press 300. With consistent training, we have no doubt that he'll reach these goals!

Something interesting that you might not know about Wes is that he's the youngest person at Lowes to get their forklift license! He loves to tinker with things and rumor has it, he's an artist and is really really good at drawing. If you follow him on Facebook or Instagram .3 you know he loooooooves his big ol' blue Ford truck and there also happens to be another beauty that shows up on his page more & more these days..... 😉

When asked how he became a member of Team Ogre, Jr. says he started training to get stronger for football. Annnnd that's about all you can pull out of him at one time: a sentence or two here and there. Wes has grown up at the Compound. We've seen him transform from a shy 15 year old into a confident young man. The football days may have come and gone, but the powerlifter in him keeps growing! Oh and if you see the black raised handle trap bar in videos, Jr did that!

Coach's quote:

"Wesley came to me to bulk up a little and get stronger for football. He really took off in the gym and ultimately, a neck injury took him out of his Jr season of football. He had made great strides in size and strength and really found his spot in the gym and powerlifting. What makes Jr, we call him Jr, so great is his work ethic. He shows up, he gets his work done and he helps, always helps. And, it's not just with the team. I have watched him while I'm working with someone straighten up plates and even take trash out...remember, it's not been quite a year yet that he graduated from high school. Always looking to help and has helped me do several projects in the gym. Just the ultimate gym mate and great young man. He has become family and makes himself at home in the gym and house and that's the epitome of family member to me. Finding his niche and now expanding on it. It's been an honor and privilege, not only to coach him but, to watch him grow into the young man he is."

02/15/2017

This is so cool! Our own is this year's featured powerlifter going into the ! Go give the full video a watch on YouTube page at the link below:

https://youtu.be/3QY3Ful2WW8

with
・・・
Road to the Arnold 2017 - Powerlifter Jennifer Millican - The 2016 Raw Nationals champion balances a career, motherhood and a strict training schedule.
Watch the full video on our YouTube channel. Link in bio.

01/25/2017

Team Ogre was in full effect this past weekend at the Tennessee State Championships! We had eight, count that 8️⃣, lifters competing, four first-timers & everybody went 3 for 3 on squats! 🎉
Angelia Hayes, in her 1st meet, went 9for9 with a 728 total in the no wraps division.
Annie Fry went 8for9 with 749 to secure her elite total in wraps.
Cory Mills FINALLY stepped on the platform for the first time and went 7for9 with a 656 total in wraps.
Heather Weese, another first timer, went 8for9 with a 419 total without wraps and became an instant crowd favorite.
Gary Mashia, our solo male first timer, went 9for9 with a 1207 total in wraps.
Jodey Reisz, an online Ogre who traveled from Indiana to compete with us, went 9for9 with a 976 total without wraps.
Sean Evans stepped back on the platform for the first time in a few years and went 8for9 with a 1052 total in wraps.
And finally Wesley Garner competed with stitches in his finger, went 9for9 & totaled 1080. You're #️⃣1️⃣ Junior! .3
Huge thanks to & no-Insta-Chris for getting everybody wrapped and ready for the platform, calling attempts, handing off, pep talking & being the best handlers possible. Thanks to & for the support & cues from the judges' chairs annnnd the occasional red light when necessary 🤣. Of course we can't forget to thank the men behind the cameras, & for the pics & vids & cues & cheers. It was a great weekend for Team Ogre!

01/23/2017

team
NOUN

A group of people with a full set of complementary skills required to complete a task, job, or project.
Team members (1) operate with a high degree of interdependence, (2) share authority and responsibility for self-management, (3) are accountable for the collective performance, and (4) work toward a common goal and shared rewards(s). A team becomes more than just a collection of people when a strong sense of mutual commitment creates synergy, thus generating performance greater than the sum of the performance of its individual members.

01/13/2017

Team Ogre Friends! See below!

with
・・・
Friends! I have officially accepted my spot on the US Open Team and will compete at IPF Worlds in June in Minsk, Belarus. My super awesome friends at designed these sweet shirts for me to sell to all of my gasoline!
Thank you all so much for your support and encouragement in winning a National Title, now let's get that World Title!
Link below 😘😘😘😘

https://store-1lzj7jlrjv.mybigcommerce.com/

01/07/2017

Luck is what happens when preparation is met with opportunity... so sending it all to Ogres "Missy" & "Bobby" aka "Robeartoe" as they compete in their first Strongman contest today! Go get 'em!

01/05/2017

♦️♦️TEAM OGRE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT♦️♦️

Everybody, say hello to Cory Mills 👋! Cory Jean, as we like to call her, is 28, has been lifting for about a year and a half, and still considers herself a powerlifting newb. In fact, when originally asked to provide the info for the spotlight, her first response was "no not me, I'm not a real powerlifter yet." Meaning she hasn't competed in a meet, but that's about to change! She will be competing in her very first meet in just 2 weeks at SPF TN States! Eeek! Cory's original plans to compete last June were put on hold when she almost died of a pulmonary embolism in May. She came back to training slowly and never lost sight of her goal to compete. Her doctors have since given her the go-ahead and now it's on! Right now, Cory's immediate goal is to Get. A. Total. In the short term, she wants to hit a three plate deadlift and long term, she would love to get an elite total and compete at USAPL Raw Nationals.

Outside of powerlifting, Cory loves to spend time outdoors. She tries to spend as much time outside as possible and never backs down from an outdoorsy challenge. Her life goal is to visit every US National Park. She says she has gotten many a coach lecture about her "weekend activities" affecting her Monday morning bench sessions... but she says she can't help it, she loves to hike! And kayak, and climb, and raft.... and the Hokies!

Favorite Lift: The deadlift bc big numbers!
Favorite Accessory: Let's just say, if she could front squat on the platform she would!
Current Stats: Coach would say her current meet PR is 0 so she has nowhere to go but up. Unofficial gym PRs are: squat 225, bench 150, deadlift 300.

Some interesting things about Cory? She is a band geek turned powerlifter. She played clarinet in marching band for nearly 10 years, both in high school and at Virginia Tech. She is also an engineer by trade and for work she sometimes has to cut open giant mining tires with a machete. Interestingly, wanting to become better at cutting open big ol tires, led Cory to strength training and ultimately to powerlifting!

How did she become a member of Team Ogre? Well, funny you asked. "After lifting mostly on my own at the YMCA for almost a year, I decided to get serious about competing. I searched Powerlifting Watch for gyms in Nashville. I was thrilled to find one only about 15 minutes from my house with a group of world-class lifters, awesome friends, and a coach willing to put up with my crazy travel schedule."

Send good vibes to Cory over the next couple of weeks as she steps on the platform for the first time and chases down those goals for many years to come! Give her a follow on Facebook, and also check out her blog! https://deadliftsintedhose.wordpress.com/author/deadliftsintedhose/

Coach's Quote: "What an unassuming lifter and person. When Cory contacted me, I wasn't sure what to expect. But the surprise wasn't her ability or even her want to do this. What is all encompassing with Cory is her undeniable spirit. She not only wants to do strength, as well as other things, she needs it. She doesn't let travel or even party time interfere. She will train wherever she can find a gym and even after some serious partying. She stared death in the face and over came it. It doesn't get more committed than that in my book. As we come up on her first meet, it's exciting for me as coach, to see what comes and more, where she takes it from that point. She is also the queen of the b***y shorts and really odd make up."

01/04/2017

** ANNOUNCEMENT**

The Team Ogre Member Spotlight has been on hiatus for the past few months, but it's about to make a comeback! Back by popular demand, in the typical monolithic fashion, having been inspired by Online Ogres, Matt & Chad (otherwise known as the Peacock & the Giraffe), get ready for the next installment of the Spotlight. Just one question.... Who will it be???????? Stay tuned.

01/01/2017

❤️💛💚💙💜

01/01/2017

♦️TEAM OGRE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT♦️

Not!!!

10/26/2016

Team Ogre's own 's meet recap blog post:

http://poweryourown.blogspot.com/2016/10/2016-raw-nationals-and-your-bullsh*t.html?m=1

Along with Coach 's response:

http://poweryourown.blogspot.com/2016/10/to-you-she-is-champion.html?m=1

10/26/2016

UPDATE! Step 1 complete! Jennifer did indeed dominate at USAPL Raw Nationals by winning the 57kg weight class which is an accomplishment in itself, but she also went on to take best female lifter of the whole event! This scored her a spot on 9for9media's top 5 moments. Check it out at the link below!

Moving on to Step 2.... IPF Worlds!

http://9for9media.com/steadygrind-blog/2016/10/23/the-top-5-moments-of-the-2016-usa-powerlifting-raw-nationals

♦️♦️TEAM OGRE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT♦️♦️

This week we spotlight Jennifer Millican who has been dubbed "Shorty" by Wade. She's also known as Pnut, Bruiser, JTMoney, or simply JT. Jennifer is 33, married to Michael. They have two children, Taylor Ann & Leo. Fun fact: Leo was born in Las Vegas, at home, on purpose. Jennifer has been powerlifting just over three years and has accomplished quite a lot so far.
At her last meet (the SPF Women's ProAm in April), she totaled 1055@123 raw with wraps and set an *ALL TIME* squat record with 420lbs. Jennifer will compete at USAPL Raw Nationals in Oct. where the goal is to be the National Champ at 57kg. After she dominates at Nationals, she has set her sights on winning Gold at IPF Worlds in the 57kg class in June 2017. Oh and she also plans to total 1100@123 in wraps.

Best Meet Results: 420lb squat in wraps ( #1 on powerlifting watch),363lb squat no wraps ( #1), 215lb bench ( #2), 420lb deadlift ( #3).
Favorite Lift: The Total! But the squat (DUH) if she has to be specific.
Favorite Accessories: Overhead press and front squats.
How she became a member of Team Ogre: "I googled powerlifting gyms when I was planning to move back to TN, this one happened to be in the town where I grew up...... And I guess I just kept showing up!"

Jennifer has always been super competitive. Whether it be the sports she played growing up, mostly softball and basketball or football after school in the churchyard and anything else she could talk her way into; or board games, arm wrestling, beach volleyball, 'insert any activity here' as an adult. When she plays, she plays to win.

Jennifer claims she's not very interesting and the best thing she can come up with is that she's never had the chicken pox (lame), but we all know better! An interesting fact about our teammate is that she's very handy and has learned how to do some pretty cool things like stone masonry, refinish furniture, cook REALLY well, AND perform some pretty good handstands.

Coach's quote: "The thing, for me, that is great about Jen is not her talent, her genetic gifts...it is her willingness to prepare. The willingness to study, to be coached, to lean on experience and still be confident in herself. Many will say or shrug her ability and success off as God given talent, and she has that in spades but, potential is meaningless unapplied and Jen works her plan, works her talent and works her gifts. She really likes purple and is really short."

Follow Jennifer on Instagram , on YouTube, or on her blog at: http://poweryourown.blogspot.com/ to keep track of her progress in taking over the world via powerlifting!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

10/17/2016

10/14/2016

It's going down! Watch live on the platform now!
https://youtu.be/xGNV2REws5k

10/12/2016

Team Ogre will be lifting at USAPL Raw Nationals this weekend! Friday at 9am, 2pm and 6:30pm and on Sunday at 9am. ALL EASTERN TIMES.
Here is the link if you want to catch some of the action!

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/usa-powerlifting.html

10/04/2016

♦️♦️TEAM OGRE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT♦️♦️

It's that time again! Time to shine the spotlight on the next Team Ogre member, Matt Scoggins. Stand back though, he's not keen on being in the spotlight or making a big deal out of things or talking about himself or answering questions or talking at all for that matter, but we can't help but notice this guy's presence (and not just because he's a bearded ginger). Matt may not be the most talkative teammate, but when he does say something you better listen. It's sure to be a zinger! Matt is 30 years old (he actually celebrated the big 3-0 on the platform this summer!) and has been powerlifting for a few years now. He has competed twice, most recently in Gatlinburg on his 30th bday, and plans to compete again, but doesn't have a meet on the books just yet. Matt says he has no nicknames, but you can't be an official member of this team without a nickname..... so of course the big guy has given him one.... "NBK." Matt's lifting goals are to bench 400, squat 500 and pull 500.

Favorite Lift: bench press (obvi)
Favorite Accessory: push-ups (shhhh)
Current Stats: 425 squat, 350 bench, and 460 deadlift

When you ask Matt how he became a member of Team Ogre, his rather concise response is simply: Google. Ha! Thanks for the in depth explanation, Matt! 😂

Matt spends a good bit of his time outside of the gym at work. When he's not working or lifting, he's probably fishing. He says he doesn't participate in any other sports these days, but he played baseball in high school and college. Something else I guarantee nobody knew about Matt is that he likes to play the piano! Who knew?!?

Coach's quote: "Matt is the consummate training partner. He doesn't ask or wait, if he sees someone loading, he helps, if he sees someone needing a spot, he helps. I've never seen anyone put weight on and off so quickly. He just looks bigger and smaller quickly and still built like a truck. He's also the best at catching you unprepared for a great one liner as he is the Natural Born Killer." -

Stay tuned on the Team Ogre Instagram page for more from Matt or follow him on Facebook. Perhaps one day, we'll get to see/hear his piano skills! 🎹

09/19/2016

How about an update on those lifting goals??? Coach competed this weekend and has officially qualified for the 2017 Strongman Nationals!

♦️♦️TEAM OGRE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT♦️♦️

Anyone following this page, probably already knows Wade Johnson. He is the owner/creator of Team Ogre, Coach, The B I G, Big, Big Wade, to name a few. We thought we would do a spotlight highlighting each of our members and who else to start with than our fearless leader?!? Wade is 50 years old (coming up on 51 soon 😮) and has been lifting since he was 14. He has competed in powerlifting many times and just recently competed at Relentless 2016 Minnesota last weekend. He has also competed in Strongman and Olympic Lifting. One of his other hobbies/passions is his dogs. He and Missy now have 4! Abbi is pictured here. 🐶 Wade's current lifting goals include qualifying for Masters Strongman Nationals in 2017 and to come back from injury to total 1,600+ belt only. His favorite lift is the squat and his favorite accessory movement is shrugs (you don't get them traps carrying groceries 😉). When asked his current stats, he just says: "Old, fat and ugly" to which we all groan and roll our eyes. 🙄😜 Something you might not know about Wade is that long before he was a published writer in powerlifting magazines, he was a published songwriter and toured as a musician and guitar tech. Now you know!
Follow Wade on Instagram . He also appears regularly on a podcast hosted by Eric Fiorillo at: http://motivationandmuscle.com/
Also... It's our 100th post, y'all! Thanks for following!