Damien Pezzuti stopped playing football because he grew tired of it.

Unless he grows tired of breaking records, the 2005 Union High School graduate won't stop powerlifting anytime soon.

Pezzuti, 18, began lifting weights in seventh grade. He was a running back, wide receiver and linebacker for Union through his junior year.

"I was into body-building more than football," he said. "I was always more interested in weight-lifting than playing.

"I was getting beaten up and worn out in football and I wanted to concentrate on power-lifting. I had never done it and I wanted to give it a try."

During his first-ever power-lifting meet May 8 at Clarion High School, Pezzuti set three state records in the 220-pound class: 355 pounds in the bench press, 500 pounds in the squat and 1,355 total pounds.

"I surprised myself," said the 5-foot-9, 221-pound Pezzuti. "Records weren't even on my mind at that meet."

He surprised himself even more at his next competition - the Junior Olympic Nationals held July 31 in New Orleans.

Pezzuti set two world records in the squat (551.2 pounds) and total weight lifted (1,455 pounds) and one American record of 363.8 pounds in the bench press.

Pezzuti also dead-lifted 540 pounds at nationals - 40 pounds more than he did at Clarion.

"Brad Wagner is the strength coach at Clarion High School and he's really been helping me," Pezzuti said. "He gives me programs and exercises to do and helps me on technique.

"My lifts have already improved by 50 pounds in a couple of months. I know I can do better."

While Pezzuti continues to train in powerlifting, he is expanding his interests by enrolling in a mixed martial arts academy in Pittsburgh.

Judo, kickboxing and jujitsu are among the martial arts he is pursuing.

"I thrive on competition and I want to see what those sports have to offer," Pezzuti said.

Pezzuti is enrolling at Clarion University next spring and plans to compete at the college power-lifting nationals in Miami, Fla., next May.

"I'm hoping to be a four-time national champion," he said. "I'll go on from there, competing in open divisions at various events.

"Eventually, I'd like to join the West Side Barbell Club in Columbus, Ohio. That's the premier power-lifting club in the country and I'd like to be a member."

Now that he has lofty goals in the sport, Pezzuti admitted he was hesitant to even try powerlifting at first.

"My Dad knew I liked lifting, saw there was this meet in Clarion and said I should try it," he said. "I had barely even started training in power-lifting and didn't want to embarrass myself.

"When I went out there and did well, I realized that if I worked at it, I could do something good in this sport."