C.J. and Geoffrey Lindsey took turns completing various weightlifting exercises Thursday at The Gym in Powell, never straying too far away from one another as their father provided verbal guidance and support just a few feet away.

It was a sight of family strength — both figuratively and literally.

Chad Lindsey, father of C.J., 12, and Geoffrey, 11, is a weightlifting enthusiast who has passed down his passion to his two sons, and has had the recent privilege of watching his children take their inherited love for working out to great new heights.

“Their work ethic is phenomenal,” Chad Lindsey said. “I’m their coach, but I really end up being a cheerleader more than a drill sergeant. It’s awesome, it’s a reward for me every day.”

During a two-day trip to Mesquite, Nevada, on June 12-13, C.J. and Geoffrey reaped some of their own rewards while competing in the AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) Powerlifting Championship and AAU National Weightlifting Championship. The brothers dominated various workouts and set national and world records along the way.

During his two days of competition, C.J., who stands just under 5-5 and weighs 137 pounds, squatted 176 pounds, bench pressed 121 and dead-lifted 236.5. He later snatched 88 pounds and put up 101 more in the clean and jerk for a super total of

722.5 pounds — an American record for the 12-13-year-old boys 148-pound division.

Geoffrey, 5-6 and 188 pounds, shattered records in the 10-11-year-old boys 198-pound division. He squatted 204 pounds, benched 110 and dead-lifted 258.5, all of which were world records, and the combined weight of 572 pounds was also a world mark. His clean and jerk weight of 104 pounds and snatch weight of 88 helped bring his super total of all five lifts to an American record 764 pounds.

Perhaps a sign of their youth and modest, humble upbringing, neither C.J. or Geoffrey bragged when asked about their accomplishments. Both boys just shared their passion for lifting weights.

“We both really love weightlifting,” C.J. said. “It keeps us active. Neither of us really like to stay inside all day and sit on the couch. We want to get out and do something fun and active, and weightlifting gives us that.”

“It’s just fun to challenge yourself and push yourself,” Geoffrey added. “Seeing yourself succeed is so awesome, and having the love and support (of my brother and dad) makes it even better.”

The two boys said seeing their dad working out when they were younger sparked their interest in weightlifting, but Chad Lindsey has never cracked the whip as far as training his children goes. “Strict form” is his biggest message to his sons, Chad Lindsey said, but after that, the boys enjoy normal meals — aside from the occasional protein shake — and have fun competing in track and field and football like so many other boys their age. The only difference is, their additional extracurricular activity may already be giving the youngsters an edge over their competition.

“We were just at football camp (in mid-June), and I was at running back, and I was just plowing through guys,” C.J. said. “You can see a difference right away.”

“You’re able to do things that you normally wouldn’t be able to do,” Geoffrey said. “It feels good to see your results pay off in other ways.”

C.J. and Geoffrey will get a chance to build on those results in September. Their performances at the two Mesquite competitions were not only record-setting performances, but also qualifying showings for a world competition in Las Vegas in September. Chad Lindsey said he and his boys are excited for the new challenge, and added he’s confident the two boys can expand on their efforts this fall.

“They always work hard, they never complain, so it always makes it really easy and really fun,” Chad Lindsey said. “For a healthy lifestyle, I hope they do this their whole lives.

“They’ve been blessed with some physical skills, and they also have resources that I didn’t have as a kid. So I hope they take advantage of it — which they are now — and there’s no reason for them to ever stop.”