The clank of metal echoes through the weight room. Amid the sounds of plates hitting the floor and music thudding through speakers, Edmond Memorial High School senior Chase Seo-Gravitt stands over the barbell, focused and determined. For most students at EMHS, time outside of school is spent with friends and family or completing homework, but for Seo-Gravitt, it is spent chasing a national record.
Seo-Gravitt’s journey began in his local gym at 14 years old while working out with his dad, unsure of what to expect and how far he would go. The beginning was just a way for him to spend time with his dad, unaware of how important his powerlifting hobby would become.
“I just started going to the gym and saw videos online of powerlifting,” Seo-Gravitt said. “Then one thing turned into another, and I became obsessed.”
The years of Seo-Gravitt’s hard work have paid off, with his personal bests being some of the highest set in the world for his weight group. His current personal bests are 678-pound squat, 420-pound bench press and 767-pound deadlift, all achieved within the 96k weight class. With the support of his coach, John Song, Seo-Gravitt has been able to compete in local, national and even worldwide competitions.
One of his most recent competitions was at the 2025 International Powerlifting Federation World Sub-junior and Junior championships in San Jose, Costa Rica. This event drew in over 300 competitors from across the world, all under 18, who competed against each other in their respective weight classes.
Seo-Gravitt placed second overall within his weight class. Song described Seo-Gravitt’s improvement after a year of training for this competition as an impressive feat.
“I think he’s definitely ahead of his time in the sense of where he’s able to manage everything super well and be receptive as we continue training,” Song said.
Seo-Gravitt’s overall weight lifted from all three events put him in first place, but he ultimately placed second. He considers this to be an honor since he has not been training as long as some of his competitors.
“There was a goal at hand, and I knew I had to go about that in a different way than my usual thinking: staying focused on it,” Seo-Gravitt said.
Looking ahead, Seo-Gravitt plans to continue training hard, aiming for first at IPF Worlds next year and possibly competing at the professional level for adults. For him, powerlifting is a way to build discipline and patience.
Contact Anna Vitiello at [email protected]
