I am retired now but spent 18 years coaching in NE plus being involved with weight lifting classes and summer programs. I saw maybe a handful of serious athletes who could bench press 150 percent of their body weight while they were high school age. There is a football coach in a town about twenty miles from where I live who told his returning players that by the time football season arrives that they must bench press 150 percent or they won't be allowed to play in the games. My impression of the guy was already poor but this only solidifies that he is an idiot.
The Walker kid who just maxed 425 according to the news papers was lifting just a little over 150 percent and I would have not counted it because his butt/hips were up and off of the bench. One more comment---what would that one boy who was spotting do if Walker lost the balance of the bar and it started to fall on his neck or face? Should have been at least one guy on each end----poor supervision.
The Walker kid who just maxed 425 according to the news papers was lifting just a little over 150 percent and I would have not counted it because his butt/hips were up and off of the bench. One more comment---what would that one boy who was spotting do if Walker lost the balance of the bar and it started to fall on his neck or face? Should have been at least one guy on each end----poor supervision.