Mitch Ward
CFL.ca
TORONTO — Wilfrid Laurier running back Mike Montoya shattered an E-Camp mark this morning by putting up a massive 40 reps on the bench press during strength testing, breaking the previous best mark on record.
Montoya rushed for 847 yards and six TDs last season with the Golden Hawks.
The previous record for bench press was 33 repetitions set by Montreal Alouettes’ defensive end J.P. Bekasiak in 2007. That record was tied twice this morning by Manitoba defensive lineman Eddie Steele and Montreal linebacker Joash Gesse before Montoya went seven better.
This year’s draft class put up some impressive numbers on the bench with five players pressing 25 or more repetitions.
For the strength testing the players lie on their back while pushing up and lowering 225 pounds of a weighted bar directly above their chest as many times as they can.
The top five performers during strength testing were Montoya with 40 reps, Steele and Gesse with 33 reps, Washington State’s Joe Eppele with 28 reps and Minot State’s Bart Archdekin with 25 reps.
Queen’s product Danny Brannagan was the top quarterback with 19 reps while Montreal’s Hamid Mahmoudi was the top DB with 18 reps.
Guelph’s Rob Maver, the only kicker invited to the camp pressed 11 repetitions at the 225 pound weight.
