CHICORA — Incoming Karns City senior Blaine Wilson IV had to raise $2,000 to fund his own trip to Belarus for the World Class Powerlifting Championships.

The effort was more than worth it.

Wilson returned home to a hero's welcome Thursday night after placing second overall in the 93-kilogram Sub Junior Division and setting a world record in that division in the bench press.

The sub junior division is for ages 18-under. Wilson was edged by Norway's Ali Hamdan for the overall title in his weight class.

“The competition was amazing,” Wilson said. “There was definitely an Olympic feel to the atmosphere It was pretty intense.”

Wilson benched 178 kilograms to break the world record for his class in that event. While winning a gold medal there, he also took the silver medal in the squat along with overall. He placed third overall in the sub junior division, trailing only Dmitriy Chabanov of Kazakhstan and Matthew Jones of the United States.

The United States team won the sub junior division championship.

Wilson's parents, Carrie and Blaine Wilson III, joined him in making the trip.

“It was nerve-wracking watching him, but he did great,” Mrs. Wilson said of her son.

Also a nose guard on the Karns City football team, Wilson began lifting weights in seventh grade in preparation for football. He decided to compete in powerlifting a couple of years later.

At the International Powerlifting Federation (IBF) nationals last year in Georgia, Wilson set American raw teen records with a 567.7-pound squat and 402.3-pound bench press. He competed in the 184-pound weight class.

With his showing at the World Classic, Wilson automatically qualifies for this year's IBF Nationals, slated for Orlando, Fla., in October.

“It will be more of a challenge because I have to move up to the junior division,” Wilson said. “I'll be going up against guys as old as 23.

“My goal is to get back to the worlds again at this time next year in Calgary. Ultimately, I'd like to do so in the Open division someday, competing against everybody.”

There were 48 countries represented at the Fifth IPF World Classic in Belarus. Wilson was up against 10 other competitors in his division, each representing a different country.

“This was the best of the best in the world,” he said. “You can make an error in judgment in terms of selecting what weight you're going to lift at a local competition and it really doesn't hurt you.

“At an event like this, you can make up for not being as strong as somebody else by knowing your limits better than anybody else.”

Each powerlifter states what weight he wants to attempt to lift.

“If you choose to try for a certain weight and you fail, your score is a zero,” Wilson explained. “In retrospect, maybe you could have lifted another 35 pounds, but you chose to try 40. Those decisions are critical. You have to be accurate in knowing your limitations.

“The guy (Hamdan) who beat me, this was his second or third world competition. It was my first. That can make a difference.”

Regardless, Wilson returned home a gold medalist and world record holder. His vehicle was led by three fire engines as his family arrived back in Chicora from the airport.

Well-wishers lined the main street in Chicora and more than 100 awaited his arrival at a church next to their home.

“It was amazing. I was in disbelief,” Wilson said of the homecoming. “That was so humbling, the support I received. So many people lining the streets ... I can't put it into words.”

His mother was overwhelmed as well.

“We had no idea there would be that many people out there,” she said. “It was around 9:30 p.m. and it felt like the whole community showed up.

“As parents, we're so proud of what Blaine's done. I guess we're not alone.”