2016 New York State Strength and Power Hall of Fame Inductees, Howard and Mark Krieger ,were outstanding powerlifters! To speak only of their numbers in the squat would be similar to just reading the title of a book and then putting it down, never to grasp the real content of the story. First off, the amount of weight that both of them lifted was dominant. More importantly, however, was the way in which they did so. If you have ever spent time with either of the Kriegers, or witnessed them lift, it does’t take long until the eyes naturally gravitate toward their more than impressive leg development. Many elite powerlifters lift big weights by shifting the moment arm and increasing the leverage point of the body, thus shortening the distance between the bar and the hips. Subsequently, more muscle groups are brought into action and engaged, making the athlete stronger. The Krieger brothers, however, never did this. They squatted over 700 pounds with an upright torso, placing almost all of the stress upon the thighs and hips, a feat that any strength athlete would be proud of! Additionally, they did so in the respective weight classes of 165, 181, and 198!
The Krieger brothers were dominant in the NY State Powerlifting scene during the mid and late 1980s , and reached great heights on the international scene, as well. Mark, in 1988, won the North American Championships in the 198 Lb. weight class with a 680 pound Squat, 345 pound Bench Press, and a 615 pound Deadlift. In 1986, Howard was selected to the World Team where he, despite the issues associated with traveling to India and contracting dysentery, placed third. Howard also won the Collegiate Nationals in 1986 with a three lift total of 1515.
Both 2016 New York State Strength and Power Hall of Fame Inductees, Mark and Howard Krieger, were fixtures in the top 100 section of Powerlifting USA, and continue to serve as role models for new generations of strength athletes.
Bio for Howard Krieger 2016 NYS strength hall of fame inductee
Competed in NY 1982 – 1988, in Florida 1988 – 1994
1986 USPF Collegiate National Champion 165 class and Best lifter
(1st year USPF used urinalysis testing)
1986 IPF Jr. World Championships, Bronze medal
(Team USA placed 1st as team)
10 total National meets - 1983 USPF Teen Championships (Arizona) DNF squat 165
1984 ADFPA College Nationals (Troy, AL) 3rd 165 class 1372 total
1985 USPF College Nationals (Westpoint, NY) DNF Bench
1986 USPF College Nationals (Chicago, IL) 1st 165 class, Best Lifter 1515 total
1987 USPF Men’s Senior Nationals (Chicago, IL) DNF squat
1988 USPF Natural Nationals (OK City, OK) 2nd -181 class 1646 total
1989 ADFPA Men’s Nationals (Wilkes-Barre, PA) 2nd 181 class 1663 total
1990 USPF Senior Nationals (Hollywood, FL) 2nd 181 class 1703 total
1991 NASA Natural Nationals (OK City, OK) 2nd 181 class 1635 total
1991 ADFPA Men’s Nationals (St Louis, MO)
3 International Meets - 1986 IPF Jr. Worlds 165 class 3rd 1400 total
1987 ADFPA North American Championships 165 class 1st 1580 total
1988 ADFPA North American Championships 165 class 1st 1535 total
NYS Records (set and broken) = 32 total
148 class teen records 1982 bench 270, total 1080
165 class (13) teen records (18-19 div) SQ 512.5/ Bench 330.5/ Deadlift 578.5/ total 1405
(13) Jr. (20-23 div) class SQ 600/ Bench 358/ Deadlift 610/ total 1560
(3) ADFPA men’s Sq. 600/ Deadlift 570/ Total 1465
(1) USPF Men’s Sq. 633
Moved to Florida 1988 and up to 181 class
6 Florida state Championships
ADFPA Florida State Records: SQ 675/ BP 385/ Deadlift 660/ Total 1705
Personal Bests: SQ 700/ BP 405/ DL 700/
Best Competition lifts:
148: Sq. 410/BP 290/ DL 435/ Total 1100
165: Sq. 633/ BP 365/ DL 615/ Total 1580
181: Sq. 675/ BP 390/ DL 670/ Total 1705
Retired after 1993 to change careers and start family.
Coaching profile: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist - NSCA
*Powerlifting: coached Pat Roche (NY) to USPF Teen Nationals and Collegiate titles and NYS teen titles
* Started and coached at Clearwater Central Catholic HS weightlifting team from 1988 – 2011 advancing lifters to state championships 8 of 14 seasons. Team competed in Clean and Jerk and Bench.
* Strength and conditioning coach at CCCHS 2011 – present, football – 4 straight region championships and 1 state runner up. Provide support for wrestling, soccer (state champs 2002), baseball, softball.