Louisiana USAPL

Wade Hooper

Hometown:   Alexandria, Louisiana

High school:   Bolton High School –1989

College: 

• Louisiana Tech University –1995 B.S.
• Northeast Louisiana University—1997 M.ed.

Hobbies:   I enjoy spending time with friends and family.

How did you get started:   My lifting began when I was 13.  My Jr. High PE Coach, Coach Hedgecock needed a training partner.  So he asked me to start training with him after school.  All our school had was and old multi-station nautilus machine and a free weight bar with about 80 lbs worth of weight.  I would stay after school 3 days a week and wear that machine out.  Then my mom bought me a DP weight set with a bench and squat rack attachment for Christmas.   DP were those weights that were plastic filled with concrete.  Very cheaply made, but that didn’t matter.  I never left my room… every free moment was spent lifting those concrete filled plastic disc doing every exercise imaginable with them. From that point on, I was hooked.
↓ view more of Wade's Bio

First meet:   ASH invitational 1988 - Squat 405, Bench 315, deadlift 405 raw at 165 bodyweight

Last meet:   2011 Master World’s Championships in St. Catherines, Canada. Squat 782, Bench 576, and Deadlift 584 @ 83 kg.

Family:   Wife is Kimberly Lynn Hooper and son, Tiberius Cal Hooper

Occupation:   Math teacher at Dutchtown High School

Gym:   Fletcher’s House of Power

Your best meet ever:   My best meet of all time has to be when I won my first open world title in 1996.  This was in Salzburg, Austria.  I was on a team that had some true legends of our sport, Dan Austin, Gene Bell, Ed Coan, and Kirk Karwolski.  Each of them had a minimum of 5 world titles under their belt and all of them winning gold that year.  So to go 8 for 9 that day and win my first open title with a team that talented was truly and honor and humbling experience.
Countries you've visited because of powerlifting:   Australia, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Slovakia, South Africa, Tawain, Japan, Germany, Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, Canada, and Puerto Rico

How did powerlifting help shape you as an adult:   I learned early that it takes a lot of hard work, discipline, sacrifice, and being able to deal with adversity to earn the things you want in life.  It will not be given to you nor will it simply just fall into your lap.  Nothing that is truly worthwhile does.  These were qualities were pounded into through powerlifting from a very young age and I have carried with me in my adult years.

What did you get from powerlifting, other than physical strength:   I have gotten a lot from powerlifting.  It has provided me the opportunity to travel and see the world.  My closest and dearest friends have all come from this sport.  The most important this I got from powerlifting was my wife, Kim, and eventually our son, Ty.  I would be nothing without them.

Unique or unorthodox training ideas that you employed:   My training method was always pretty simple.  I did not employ a lot of unique exercises or a ton of assistance work. I always felt that if I wanted to be a better squatter, bencher, and deadlift, then I should squat, bench, and deadlift.  That is why I used Sheiko’s training philosophies.  I found that it was geared toward my style of lifting.
Advice for young lifters:   The best advice I could give a young lifter is to focus on technique.  Make sure you have mastered technique before you start slapping on an extra pair of 45’s.  Also, you should never miss a rep.  If you consistently missing reps in the gym you are going too heavy too often.  This will only leading to over training, plateaus and frustration.

Anyone that you would like to thank:    As much as powerlifting is an individual sport on the platform, it takes an army to get you to that platform.  I would not have enjoyed the amount of success I have had over the years without some great people standing beside me and helping me.  First I want to thank my sponsors Inzer Advanced Designs and Quest Nutrition.  Sherman Ledford for all his tremendous help during my training for world’s and on the platform.  Darren Cressionne for being a tremendous training partner.  Coach Billy Jack Talton, thanks for a

lways being the gold standard by which I could always shoot for.  You gave me and every athlete you ever coached a love and passion for powerlifting that will never fade.  Jeff Douglas, I would not be here without him.  He one of the best lifter’s I have ever known and he is even a better person and friend.   Last but certainly not least, my wife and better half, Kim.  She is the most supporting wife and man could ever asked for. ↑ show less

Wade Hooper is a powerlifting legend. He is a champion of powerlifting generations, a powerlifting ambassador and all-around role model. He is a generously devoted husband, father, friend and powerlifter. His personality is vibrant and contagious. Wade is unforgettable. The only lifter in IPF history to win all 3 age category titles [Junior 1992, Open 1996, Master 2011] is also the same man that teaches math, coaches powerlifting teams/lifters, hosts meets and offers to judge or assist lifters after deadlift. He is a fierce competitor on the platform and your best friend when the lifting is done. -Kim Hooper	Wade Hooper's powerlifting career is well documented starting at Bolton High School, then Louisiana Tech University, and finally on to the IPF and international competition. Wade has continued to support the sport as a coach and as a powerlifting official. Wade was a major factor in the rise of the Louisiana Tech program to unprecedented success among collegiate programs. One of the outcomes of working with Wade over the years is what I value most-becoming one of my best friends. -Dr. Billy Jack Talton	I was lucky enough to get to meet Wade shortly out of College, winning one of his early IPF Open World spots in 1996 USPF Senior Nationals. I was a teenage lifter at the time and Wade was already a great ambassador to the sport, speaking with me. I am proud to have been in the sport and been there to see Wade and his great accomplishments. He's a good person and deserves the recognition of this Hall of Fame induction. Congrats Wade! -Steve Mann
Wade has always been a role model and a mentor to me. Whether it was calling me after my first and second squat all the way in Canada at the IPF junior worlds to ask me what was wrong and to help me adjust my composure and form. He is most certainly a great person as much as he is a very talented powerlifter. -Jordan Dunn	Wade has always been an asset as a friend and fellow lifter. Anytime we wanted some advice in regards to a lifter he would give it without a thought. He always comes to judge when he is needed and encourages the lifters. I watched him train for many years and he is very talented and determined. You couldn't tell he was a World Champion until you saw him workout. He was humble and always helpful...never intimidating. -Kelly Magendie	Wade is one of the greatest Louisiana Legends we have ever had. He is the inspiration of the name of my team, because we all want to become Louisiana Legends. -Bottesy Bailey

↓ View Wade's Powerlifting Records

Titles
Collegiate Champion 1992 & 1993
Jr. National Champion 1992
U.S Champion 1995-2008
Junior world Champion: 1992
Open World Champion: 1996, 2004, 2006
Master’s World Champion: 2011

World Records
Squat: 

• Junior --292.5 kg (1995) in 67.5 wt. class
• Open -- 300.5 kg in 67.5 wt. class, July 1996
• Open -- 302.5 kg in 67.5 wt class, July 1997
• Open -- 303 kg in 67.5 wt class, November 1997
• Open -- 305 kg in 67.5 wt class, November 1998
• Open -- 330 kg in 75 kg wt class, July 2003
• Open -- 337.5 kg in 75 kg wt class, November 2003
• Open -- 340 kg in 75 kg wt class, July 2005
• Open -- 340.5 kg in 75 kg wt class, April 2006
• Open -- 342.5 kg in 75 kg wt class, July 2006
• Open -- 347.5 kg in 75 kg wt class, November 2006
• Master-- 340 kg. in 83 kg wt class, Sept. 2011
• Master-- 355 kg. in 83 kg wt class, Sept. 2011

Bench: 

• Open -- 228 kg in 75 kg wt class, July 2004
• Open -- 230 kg in 75 kg wt class, November 2004
• Open -- 230.5 kg in 75 kg wt class, May 2005
• Open -- 232.5 kg in 75 kg wt class July 2005
• Open -- 242.5 kg in 75 kg wt class, July 2006
• Open -- 257.5 kg in 83 kg wt class, Sept. 2011
• Master -- 245 kg in 83 kg wt class, Sept. 2011
• Master -- 257.5 kg in 83 kg wt class, Sept. 2011

Total:

• Master -- 862.5 in 83 kg wt class, September 2011
• Master-- 877.5 in 83 kg wt class, September 2011