On Saturday, November 7, New Milford Fitness & Aquatics Club will once again transform into a competitive powerlifting venue as we host the 2026 USA Powerlifting NMFAC Classic III.
This will be our third USA Powerlifting-sanctioned competition at NMFAC, bringing together athletes, families, spectators, volunteers, local businesses, and members of the strength community for an exciting day in New Milford.
What Is a Powerlifting Meet?
If you’ve never attended a powerlifting competition, you might be surprised by just how exciting it is to watch.
Athletes compete in three lifts: the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Each lifter receives three attempts at each lift to achieve their highest possible total. Competitors can range from 8-year-old lifters to Masters athletes in their 80s, making powerlifting a sport that truly spans generations.
Some athletes are chasing personal records. Others are stepping onto the competition platform for the first time. Every lifter, however, arrives with a goal and months of preparation behind them.
One of my favorite things about powerlifting is its incredible sense of community. Although it is a competition, athletes encourage one another, celebrate successful lifts, and offer support when an attempt doesn’t go as planned. The energy in the room makes it easy for spectators to become part of the experience.
That same sense of community is at the heart of the NMFAC Powerlifting Team. For someone who is new to powerlifting and doesn’t know where to begin, joining a team can be one of the most welcoming ways to get started. Many of our athletes began with little or no powerlifting experience and found friends with similar goals who motivate one another, train together, and provide accountability throughout the process.
Bringing Powerlifting to New Milford
Hosting a USA Powerlifting meet takes months of preparation. Competition platforms and athlete areas must be arranged, officials and volunteers are coordinated, local businesses and sponsors get involved, and our facility is transformed into a sanctioned competition venue.
Then meet day arrives, and the atmosphere completely changes. The music is playing, spectators are cheering, athletes are warming up, and volunteers are keeping everything moving behind the scenes. When a lifter’s name is called, the room turns its attention to the platform. Three referees carefully judge the lift according to USA Powerlifting standards as the athlete puts months of training to the test.
For us, the NMFAC Classic has become about more than how much weight is on the bar. It is about creating an experience where athletes can challenge themselves, families and friends can celebrate their accomplishments, and the community can experience the excitement of strength sports together.
The 2026 USA Powerlifting NMFAC Classic III
This November, we anticipate more than 30 competitors and over 150 spectators throughout the event—and you don’t have to be a powerlifter or know anything about the sport to enjoy it. Come cheer when an athlete hits a personal record, feel the excitement of a big final deadlift, and experience firsthand the supportive community that makes powerlifting so special.
If you have ever been curious about the sport, November 7 is your chance to see it up close, right here in New Milford.
2026 USA Powerlifting NMFAC Classic III | Saturday, November 7, 2026
New Milford Fitness & Aquatics Club
130 Grove Street, New Milford, CT | (860) 799-6880
For the event schedule, athlete registration, spectator information, volunteering, and
sponsorship opportunities, visit events.nmfac.com/classic-iii.
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