‘Abs-olutely’ crushing it: Old Rochester alum competes in Arnold Sports Festival

MATTAPOISETT — Since his time at Old Rochester Regional High School, David Reynolds, 22, continues to see the fruits of his athletic talents that first got their start on the school’s track and field team.

Beginning his athletic career in the 7th grade, Reynolds says the accolades didn’t start until his sophomore year when he competed in his first competition on the state level. His success would only grow from there.

Now, Reynolds finds himself competing among even greater competition, taking on events like the Arnold Classic, a sporting festival hosted by Arnold Schwarzenegger with athletes from across the world. Reynolds competed in the classic for a second year from Thursday, Feb. 27 to Sunday, March 2 at its location in Columbus, Ohio.

A multi-event festival that asks athletes to put their bodies to the test, Reynolds secured his place as 7th in the arm lifting event for men under 125 kilograms.

After battling health issues and dropping body weight, Reynolds said he wasn’t satisfied with the training he did ahead of the 2024 festival where he placed 11th. However, with a new attitude and regiment, he not only placed higher this year, but managed to break his personal record, pulling 396 pounds on the axle bars.

“Coming back this year I was happy to be back into a competition,” he said.

“For my class we got to compete on the main stage of the expo,” Reynolds added. “It’s the biggest stage we’ll be on all year and it’s the biggest crowd we’ll have all year.”

Reynolds trains for competitions like the Arnold Classic at Champions Fitness in New Bedford where he lives now. He said the gym helps him out by letting him store his speciality bars in one of their back rooms.

“It’s an eight week prep,” Reynolds said. “Two weeks before the show, it’s just tapering off and getting ready. I’ll bump my carbohydrates and calories up a little bit.”

Reynolds graduated from Old Rochester in 2021, where he threw shot put, discus and weight for the team for six years before he was scouted by UMass Dartmouth for track and field. Though deciding university wasn’t for him, he chose to hold onto the weights and continued to pursue competitions.

Accomplishing what he set out to do this year at the festival, Reynolds said he hopes to place even higher.

“As long as I get an invite or if I qualify, then I’ll be back there next year,” he said.