Durbin student to compete in world weightlifting championships

Durbin, W.Va. – Pocahontas County High School junior Judd Walther will represent West Virginia and the United States in a world power lifting competition in England this November. Walther tells how he got involved in weightlifting.

“Well, I got into it, I guess it was after my freshman year of football,” he said. “And I got into it and found that I was naturally strong and I do it because I play football and it just really helps on the field. And this guy that lived across from me had a weight bench and stuff. So, we started working out with him.”

An internet search led Walther to his first competition.

“This past March, I decided to get into power lifting competitions,” he said. “I was just looking on the internet and saw that there actually were weightlifting competitions and just decided to try it and see how I could do. I did a local meet in Beckley. It was actually in Mullens, West Virginia. They had like a little town meet. I did that in March. I came in first, but there wasn’t any competition in that one because it was a small meet. But I had the third overall heaviest dead lift out of like all the classes.”

State and national titles soon followed.

“I did the state meet in Charleston, West Virginia and came in first,” he said. “But then again, there wasn’t any competition there.”

“I did the national meet back in July. It was in Marietta, Ohio and it was a three-day event. I’m pretty sure that every day, there was about 80 lifters and I think there was three or four in my category. I was nervous, at first, but then, when I got up on the platform, I was excited. I came in first in that.”

The Durbin athlete advances to the World Powerlifting Federation World Championships in Aldershot, England on November 2-4.

“From what I’ve researched, it’s going to be very strict,” Walther said. “There’s going to be some very heavy lifters there in my category. I’m very excited to represent my town and state and I feel that I can come back with first place.”

Walther must pay all of his travel expenses to the world championships. The Upper Pocahontas Community Cooperative set up an account for those who want to help. Make checks payable to: UPCC and mail to Judy Fuller, HC89 Box 10B, Durbin, WV, 26264.