Natchitoches native Teri Ivey’s hard work paid off for her. She received an invitation compete at the 2019 Olympia Pro Powerlifting Championships in Las Vegas on Sept. 13-14. Only 30 people from across the world will compete in the bench press competition, which Teri qualified for in her weight and age group (132 weight class in the 45-49 age group).

Ivey lives and teaches special education in Texas, but she has family and friends in the Natchitoches Area. Her sister Christi Ivey admires Teri’s dedication.

Teri graduated from Natchitoches Central in 1988 and earned a bachelors in elementary education from Northwestern State University. In college she used to go to Warehouse Fitness. After moving to Texas her workout routine dropped off as she focused on her family and earning her master in curriculum instruction at University of Texas at Arlington.

She started back up about three years ago, getting serious about weightlifting just two years ago. Her first competition was eight months ago and she’s been training heavily with Coach Brad Duncan in Texas since January of this year. So far she’s set state records in her weight class in bench press and deadlift. With a bit of luck and a lot of determination, Teri will set new records when she competes later this year.