First off Kyle welcome to PM!
Powerlifting was my first love for the first 10 years . Though we trained like a raw lifter ,we woud use a shirt maybe for a opener to get the feel and the next week the meet only.
Course in the decade of the 90's we didn't have shirts that added 300-400LbS .
We would strive to get 80-100lbs over ur max.
In 98 i decided to get ready for a bodybuilding show and never looked back.I started to hate what took place in powerlifting.. Shirts progressed to the point you had to train in them all the time.A unlimited gear becnch presser ,raw bench would suffer a hell of a lot.
Now i noticed powerlifters have a choice to compete and can compete in a raw divison or single or unlimited.
Which pleases me! I can spot a raw lifter a mile a way ,they will look more the part where a lot of gear lifters (not all) will look like they are fat or skinny.
You on the other hand have the best of both worlds ,nice lifts and development!
I wish you nothing but success and this is your for the taking!
Like you my bench was my bread maker but i did full power so i wouldn't be teased by my brothers of powerlifting!
I remember in my last year i hit the bench press world record in 1997,i had done something i set to achieve~!
Course the record never stood it was broke in 3 months but i still have the edition of powerlifting usa, i was ranked #2 bench presser ,which to the youngsters was a pretty big deal!
I trained westside and still to this day will use their theory's and love the choices you can use !
I would love to see you and a young man that lifts in some meets ,one where he hit 500+ lbs @ 222.
Course as you can see he has to deplete a lot to hit his class(lol)
Anyways you have some guys here that can always give you a few useful tips!
As their are some you can repay by sharing your knowledge.
Not hit that 500 lb bench brother!