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That’s the case with power- He’ s continuing to get into the gym lifter extraordinaire Jeff Ellis, who is as often as possible to do cardiovascu- sidelined by an injury once again after lar workouts. adding to his impressive resume. “I’ve always placed a priority on This time, a partially torn tricep exercise and finding time to do it,” he tendon in his right arm suffered about said, even during income tax time, a a month ago isn’t allowing the West busy stretch of the year for Ellis, a cer- Bloomfield resident to lift weights tified public accountant. until probably the end of April. Here’ s another bit of good news Last year he was sidelined for for Ellis concerning the Michigan three months because of a right Senior Olympics Winter Games. shoulder injury. Ellis finally convinced his longtime In each case, the recov- friend Stu Bandalene to ery regimen has been rest compete. and physical therapy. “Jeff has been twist- The latest injury ing my arm about it came shortly after Ellis for a couple of years,” won a gold medal in Bandalene said. the Michigan Senior “When we were grow- Olympics Winter Games ing up, Stu was the best in February with a 300- athlete in our neighbor- pound bench press. hood in Southfield,” It was his 12th Senior Ellis said. Olympics gold medal to Bandalene won three go along with one silver medals in basketball Jeff Ellis has won a dozen medal and one bronze skills competitions at gold medals in powerlifting the Senior Olympics. medal in his eight years at the Michigan Senior competing in the event. The 57-year-old Sylvan Olympics. Ellis competed in an Lake resident won a gold American Powerlifting medal in “H-O-R-S-E” Federation meet in December and and silver medals in free throw and broke his own APF state record with a three-point shooting. 290-pound bench press. “Basketball was my best sport when That qualified him for the APF I was a kid, and I still love the game,” nationals in May, but for the sec- Bandalene said. ond straight year, he won’ t be able He played basketball at Southfield to make his first appearance in the High School and basketball and soft- nationals because of an injury. ball in B’nai B’rith leagues. “I won’ t be ready for nation- Surgery on both shoulders and als,” he said. “The last time I was other physical ailments don’ t allow injured, I had dropped about 70 Bandalene, who works in sales, to run pounds in the bench press when I up and down a basketball court any- started lifting again.” more, but he can still shoot. With his 58th birthday coming up in He went 16-for-20 at the free throw May, is Ellis thinking of putting an end line and 11-for-15 on three-point shots to his powerlifting career? He’ s not in his silver medal-winning efforts at ready to toss in the towel just yet. the Michigan Senior Olympics. “It’ s come up in conversations with Royal Oak High School tennis coach my wife and parents, but I hope I can Kevin Friesen made all 20 of his free continue,” he said. throws and was 14-for-15 on three- “I’ll admit it’ s frustrating. point shots to win gold medals, but Weightlifting has been a major part Bandalene beat Friesen in “H-O-R-S-E.” of my life for 40 years. I’ve had a lot of “I’ve always been a good long- injuries, but these last two have been range shooter,” Bandalene said. the worst. If I can’ t compete anymore, “Unfortunately, there wasn’t a I’ll find something else to do.” three-point line when I was in high At the moment, Ellis plans to com- school.” • pete in powerlifting in the Michigan Send tips to stevestein502004@yahoo.com. Senior Olympics Summer Games in