(as told by Troy Fryar)
My dad, Mike Fryar, who recently turned 70, started lifting when I came in the service 26+ years ago. Ironically, he was 44 when he started, the same age I am now. I want to brag about my dad, he is truly a remarkable man. He served honorably in the U. S. Coast Guard, served 20 years and retired as a Master Chief (E-9) in 1983. He started his own business a couple years after retiring from the military, and about ready to retire again at the end of 2015. He is a devoted husband of nearly 50 years, a father to my sister Tammy and myself, a grandfather, uncle and the oldest sibling of nine. I strive daily to become half the man he is and I would not be where I am today without his guidance. Not only is he my dad….my dad is my best friend and training partner.
I have been in the Coast Guard since 1989, just over 26 years ago. I started off my career as an enlisted member. In 2000, I was making E-7, selected for promotion to Chief Warrant Officer and Officer Candidate School. I chose the commissioning route, and have been an officer since 2001. I have been all over the world with the Coast Guard. Currently, I work in Seattle, WA as the Reserve Forces manager for the 13th Coast Guard District (which comprises Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana).
I started competing in powerlifting in high school, namely for football. I have been competing for 30 years, with some years I sat out for deployments. Jerry Mongillo, a nationally ranked USPF 181lbs powerlifting champ, got me into powerlifting for football. Jerry and Karen Mongillo, my God Parents, dear friends of my parents, got me into powerlifting competitions. I started competing at 15. In 1989, I entered the Coast Guard, this was about the time, my dad started lifting with Jerry. In 1992, Dad and I entered our first powerlifting meet together, the ADFPA Alaska State Championships. From that meet on, Dad was bit by the powerlifting bug. Dad has competed in the ADFPA Masters level in Washington State and at Nationals. In 1997, Dad and I entered our first WABDL meet and have competed primarily in WABDL meets since. Many people ask my Dad, “Did you get your son into lifting?” Their reactions are great when my dad responds, “no, my son got me into lifting.” In 2012, my oldest son, Westin competed in his first meet at the age of 15. That was a memorable meet, having three generations of Fryar’s competing. A very proud moment for my dad and myself! Westin holds a couple teenage WA state DL records.
My Dad and I compete in powerlifting because we enjoy training together. Over the years, training has been done virtually, and most recently, when I am stationed near my folks, we often meet on weekends to train together. Dad will often travel 2+ hours to meet me, just to train, over a weekend. We both owe Jerry Mongillo for exposing powerlifting to us, because it has built a bond between us, and allowed us to do something we both enjoy
together.
My Dad’s best DL is 633lbs and he holds multiple DL WABDL records in WA state, national and world records. He was a 2015 WABDL Hall of Fame Inductee. My best DL is 705lbs and I have multiple DL WABDL records in Washington, Oregon, Virginia and Michigan. I tell my dad, my goal is to be as strong as him when I am his age, to change the first name on the records he holds.
Dad and I both are grateful for Gus Rethwisch and the WABDL team. Gus tirelessly hosts many meets a year around the country. We have lifted in other federations and nothing beats the professionalism and family atmosphere found at WABDL meets.