Jason Beck's string of national power-lifting championships was interrupted last year with good reason: He was deployed to Iraq for 15 months.

"I'm a reservist and was sent over there for 15 months," the 25-year-old Chicora resident said. "I just got home the day after Easter."

Beck was stationed on a base in Tikrit and helped supply fuel for the military. He had won the USA Power-lifting National Collegiate Division championship in the 198-pound division in 2001 and 2002 in Louisiana.

He was undefeated in power-lifting competitions from 1999 through 2001.

Beck was set to graduate from Slippery Rock University with a degree in physical education before being sent to Iraq.

"I still have to get my student teaching in," Beck said. "If all goes well, I should graduate in December."

Beck also competed in the men's open division at the USA Power-lifting Men's Nationals in 202 and placed sixth.

His power-lifting training while in Iraq was basic at best.

"There was only so much we could do," he said. "We got some weights after I was there four months and got some basic practice in, but nothing really heavy.

"Once I got home, I had about 14 weeks to train for nationals. I trained hard."

And it paid off.

Beck went down to Baton Rouge, La., and finished first in the men's 198-pound open division.

His overall lift total was 1,862 pounds: 694 pounds in the squat, 473 pounds in the bench-press and 694 pounds in the dead lift.

In 2001, Beck set a national collegiate division power-lifting record for the 198-pound class when he lifted 1,713.6 total pounds. That qualified him for the junior world competition in Bulgaria, where he placed fifth.

When he won at collegiate nationals in 2002, Beck was too old to qualify for the junior world team.

"My goal next year is to qualify for the men's world team," Beck said. "This year, I can't qualify."

Again, his deployment to Iraq hampered his development in the sport. The United States has a list of its top 35 power-lifters, based on tournament results. Beck was unable to compete enough during the past year to make that list.

"My numbers are good enough - I just haven't been around," he said. "Next year, I'll be on that list."

Beck hopes to compete at the American Open in November. The next USA Men's Nationals are in April.

Beck began getting into power-lifting at age 15. He trains four days a week, one hour each session.

He competes in drug-free meets, where the participants are tested for anabolic steroids and stimulants.

"I'm proud to say I'm a drug-free athlete," he said. "I've set up my own gym in my garage and that's where I train.

"I plan to keep doing this. I plan to get better."