Exercise Science Student Wins First Place in Powerlifting Competition

Vice Lujan, who graduated from Bastyr's exercise science and wellness program this spring, is not the typical bodybuilder. Instead of spending his free time at the gym pumping iron, he trains four days a week for little more than an hour. Instead of downing quick and easy strength-enhancers, he eats nutritious, natural foods and reads books on holistic health. In spite of this--or perhaps because of this--he seems to have an edge on other bodybuilders. In fact, he won two first-place awards at his first state powerlifting competition in May.

Although Vice is from Bakersfield California, where, he says "everyone lifts weights," the 24-year-old powerlifter did not grow up an avid weight-lifter. He has always been interested in health and was in good physical shape--even modeling at one point for Levi's and Wrangler--but historically lifted weights about as much as the next "California Guy."

But his interest in bodybuilding grew as he continued pursuing his life-long interest in health and fitness. Vice wanted to enroll in a holistic nutrition program and discovered Bastyr's nutrition degree on the World Wide Web. He planned to enroll, but as soon as he heard that Bastyr also offered an exercise science and wellness program, he decided that program would suit him even better.

So, he and his wife moved from California to Washington to attend Bastyr. At the same time, he decided to set his sights on entering a weightlifting competition. "I wanted to have more strength," he explains. To qualify for the competition, Vice lifted weights with two trainers at a Redmond powerlifting gym for two years while studying in Bastyr's exercise science and wellness program.

Vice did his first powerlifting competition in May simply for the experience. Considering himself a beginner, he was as surprised as anyone else when he won first place in the Junior Men's Deadlifting division as well as in the Class I Men's Deadlifting division. In addition, he was named "Best Lifter" for both divisions. He broke the former state record of 402 pounds in his division by lifting a hefty 545 pounds.

When asked if he ever thought he would end up a prize-winning powerlifter, he says no. "I don't know what makes me good at this," says the modest 178-pound Bastyr graduate. "I think it's genetics. I have a good, strong back and hamstrings - or at least that's what my coaches say." Now that Vice won first place, he automatically is slated to compete in the world powerlifting competition in November. At the world level, he can win monetary prizes.

Not that Vice is counting on powerlifting competitions for his livelihood. Now that Vice has graduated, he hopes to find a job as a strength trainer working with high school students. "I love to teach and I really like working with young people," he says. He explains the practical applications of strength training: "Strength training can be anything-it can be a volleyball player who wants to jump higher, a soccer player who is recovering from an injury or a football player who wants to work on squatting. It's not just about bodybuilding."

Vice appreciated his education at Bastyr because of its holistic focus, the fact that nutrition was part of the exercise science program ("the whole first year is nutrition," he says) and because of the friendly, intimate feeling of the university. He also liked the small instructor-to-student ratio.

Asked how he liked the challenging science courses, he replies, "I love the sciences. I am very interested in biochemistry and physiology. I enjoy learning how the body works, such as the pathway that vitamins take in the body and how they can make people stronger."

But Vice is not so focused on becoming stronger that he will resort to artificial performance-enhancers or recommend them for others. "I will always be drug-free," he explains. "I only compete in drug-free federations, such as the World Association for Benchers and Deadlifters, which drug-tests all of the winners."

"I am glad that I get to compete in these competitions," says Vice. "I also love the chance to help and teach people. Right now, I just love life."