Hi all...just trying to gauge my realistic chances of hitting certain goals in the bench press one day. I just read rage22's post (congrats by the way) and noted that he was pressing 365 in f'n high school! Now, i realize full well (take dennis rodman and scottie pippen, for example) that people mature at vastly different stages...hell, i went to high school with a kid who was getting beat up by freshman when he was a junior and now he's in the NFL...but, to get to my point, is it at all different for powerlifting? Soooo many of the articles and testimonials I read make it seem as though naturally strong people start in the high 200's or low 300's and go from there. I still remember the day I put up 135 for the first time - it was the day after my birthday and my goal had been to hit it before my b-day. BTW, we're talking about my 18th birthday hereif i'm recalling the date correctly as i believe i am. Now, i've busted my ass to the point where i muscled up 315 in the past (had dipped slightly below that as a max as of last test in late fall) and am in my first round of westside style training, which i'm really enjoying...so i hope to see it pop up.
However, while i have no illusions of being elite, I would like to see a bench well into the respectable 400's some day. I'm assuming this is not only possible, but neutrally realistic as well...any validity to that? Any stories about those guys and gals who've made huge jumps from their initial strength?