For someone who has been powerlifting for a little more than two years, Lower Burrell resident Nate Salem is rewriting the state and world record books. Salem's climb began on April 28, 2001, at the Anti-Drug Athletes United (ADAU) meet in Bigler, Clearfield County, and he hopes to continue his surge May 31 in West Virginia. The 1998 Burrell High School graduate has managed to grab an assortment of records in a relatively short time. At the Natural Athletes Strength Association (NASA) World Cup championship on Aug. 10, 2002, at Oklahoma City, Salem set a world and state mark in the bench press at 235. At the same meet, he set a new state, national and world standard in the deadlift at 437 pounds. "I think the deadlift is my favorite," Salem said. "I feel that's where I'm at my best." In all, Salem holds 13 records in various levels of competition. At his first meet in Bigler, Salem took first place in the junior deadlift at 123 pounds and set an American and Junior American record in the single lift at 341.71. A month later at the NASA state championship in New Stanton, Salem took first place in the single curl at 127.8 and the single deadlift at 315. On Nov. 3, 2001, Salem returned to New Stanton and set a state record in the single curl at 132 pounds and earned firsts in the squat, bench and deadlifts. There was more to come. At the ninth annual Coal Miner Classic in December 2001 at Bigler, Salem hit the motherlode, bringing home a new American and Junior American mark in the single lift at 385. On Nov. 16, 2002, at the NASA Regionals in New Stanton, he set a state record in the single curl at 134, a junior state record in the squat at 281, the bench press at 205 and the deadlift at 402. In between his competitions and workouts and York's Gym in New Kensington and Colbert's in West Tarentum, the 22-year-old finds time to attend Westmoreland Comminuty College-New Kensington Campus and work at Pizza Outlet, Lower Burrell. Salem is working toward a degree in physical science, but he might eventually want to take an accounting course because he'd like to turn pro. "I'm planning on turning pro," Salem said. "I like the thought of going to events in different cities."

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