By Glenn Rolfe

MILLSBORO — In our current uncertain environment amid a pandemic, Garrett Rogers is pulling rank and raising eyebrows in the powerlifting world.

While crossing a road to fetch baseballs in mid-May 2016, Garrett was critically injured from head to toe when struck by a van. But the now-14-year-old Millsboro resident is on a miraculous comeback, one that is apparently far from over.

“From where I came from like five years ago, being hurt, not able to walk and everything, I just want to prove to everyone that I am a strong son of a gun, and I can lift,” Garrett said.

The Garrett Rogers recovery story is incredibly uplifting.

With stepfather Jim Palermo as his loyal workout partner, Garrett has cracked the list among elite powerlifters in both the Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate and on a worldwide basis.

In the age 14-15, 132-pound weight division, Garrett currently holds three of four Revolution Powerlifting Syndicate records: for the squat (340 pounds), for the dead lift (426.3 pounds) and for a combined total of squat, bench and dead lift at 940 pounds. Those marks were set Jan. 30.

Garrett’s best dead lift ranks fifth among the powerlifting syndicates and organizations worldwide, and his total has him currently 11th in the world overall, according to OpenPowerlifting rankings.

“There are dozens of different syndicates across the country and the world. As far as RPS is concerned, Garrett has got those world records, three of the four,” said Mr. Palermo. “It is all done by weight classes and age divisions. The real thing to look at is OpenPowerlifting, which ranks regardless of what nation, regardless of different syndicates. And if you look at that, his dead lift … he is fifth in the world.”

Garrett, who turns 15 in May, was not about to be derailed by the coronavirus crisis.

A homemade powerlifting gym in the detached garage of his rural Millsboro home has been the setting for workout sessions for nearly a year.
Until the virus struck, Garrett and Mr. Palermo worked out at Pure Fitness in Millsboro.

“Last year, when everything started to ramp up with closures, I started the week prior to when they shut all the gyms down trying to find equipment, realizing that we were probably going to have to outfit ourselves here to tide ourselves over,” said Mr. Palermo. “We were figuring it would be a couple weeks, maybe a month. Over the past year, we’ve just added to it and added to it. After a while, we started realizing that we’re not going back to a commercial gym.

“We’ve got what we need here. Apart from the social aspect of it — we miss our friends and getting to socialize. But we’ve been able to make do and get all the work in that we need to keep him on his goals,” he added.

Four days each week, Garrett and Mr. Palermo follow a specific workout regimen mapped out by their coach, Travis Rogers.

“Travis is like a world-ranked powerlifter himself. He opened a gym in Salisbury (Maryland),” said Mr. Palermo. “He and his wife used to train at Pure Fitness. They branched out on their own and opened their own powerlifting gym and host competitions. Travis is really the one that pushed Garrett toward competition. He does all the coaching from a distance now.”

Garrett said he owes much of his success to his coach.

“I wouldn’t be here where I am right now if it wasn’t for Travis. These programs really do help,” the teen said. “We’re on a routine, four times a week. We do squats one day, bench another day, dead lift another day and then some type of bodybuilding movement to like rebuild and regain strength and work on things.”

Mr. Palermo further explained the workouts.

“What we are doing right now is we have three of the four days that are focused on his three big lifts, which is what powerlifting competition is measured (by): your squat, bench and dead lift,” he said. “Then, the fourth day, we have isolating. We do some different accessories and stuff trying to shore up some weak points.”

Garrett, an avid outdoorsman, is a freshman at Delmarva Christian High School in Georgetown and plans to play baseball this spring.

Sports seemed totally out of the question in the aftermath of that tragic day — May 14, 2016 — when Garrett was struck by a van as he darted across Iron Branch Road to gather baseballs.

Garrett sustained multiple bone fractures and brain trauma. He was kept in an induced coma for some time to deal with his head injury, leading to a monthslong stay at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington.

Extensive rehabilitation and therapy followed, as Garrett had to relearn how to do some basic skills, even walking.

Sadly, the day of his accident came just six months after Garrett’s father, former U.S. Army Ranger Kirk Rogers, passed away unexpectedly in November 2015.

Nearly five years later, Garrett’s miraculous recovery has him reaching his goals.

“I want to be No. 1 in (age) 13-to-15 all-time in powerlifting, and I want to have the No. 1 dead lift. I’m working on that,” he said.

Garrett’s mom, Wendy Rogers Palermo, remains forever thankful.

“Looking at this journey and the road he was unwillingly put on that day, I get overwhelmed with thankfulness at where this road could have led versus where it did,” Ms. Palermo said. “It’s like a Mack Truck at times, and the gratitude plows me down. The odds said he shouldn’t be doing these things he’s doing. We were thrilled when he spoke a word or two and when it looked like he would swallow and eat normally again.”

The dead lift mark Garrett is gunning for is just over 500 pounds.

“And I want to set a couple more RPS records,” he said. “I just want to reach my full potential.”

For now, family bragging rights belong to Mr. Palermo, who has the upper hand in the three lifts. But Garrett is already nipping at his heels in the dead lift.

“Garrett has been talking about it, that this is the last year, and then, he’ll have weights on dead lift that are better than mine,” said Mr. Palermo. “I’ve still got him a little bit … on squat and bench, but dead lift, he has almost caught right up to me.”

“We like to compete … friendly competition … and push each other,” said Garrett.

Nutrition factors into his workout routine.

“He does pay close attention to the diet,” said Mr. Palermo. “We’re looking at keeping like a certain amount of protein and a certain amount of carbohydrates as his goal for the day. It’s not like it’s a free-for-all!”

At present, Garrett’s career goal is to be a conservation officer. “Someone who like checks for deer-hunting licenses, things like that … something outdoors,” he said.

Mr. Palermo, 38, has been into bodybuilding for about 20 years. He focused on powerlifting when Garrett took up the sport seriously.

“The cool thing I have really found with powerlifting and why it’s such a good thing for him to get into is that even though, technically, you’re competing against people, really, you are competing against yourself. Everyone in the community supports each other. Everyone is pushing each other,” said Mr. Palermo. “So when we got to these meets or when we are training for meets with other people, everyone is lifting each other up. When we go to these meets, everyone kind of flocks to him because he stands out in a crowd. It’s grown men. It’s guys that are 250-300 pounds, and, all of a sudden, there is a 14-year-old up there. He gets a lot of attention from that.

“The support we get from people in the community is awesome,” he added.

His wife agreed.

“I just go back to saying the same things I’ve always said: thank you to all the people who have played a role in this journey from day one,” said Ms. Palermo. “From doctors, nurses, (emergency medical services), teachers and family and friends and therapists and people who we’ve never met but prayed, I count you all as blessings. To his stepdad, who started him in this, we’re so lucky to have you in our world. To be the mom to this incredible boy and his sister, Aubrey, who has nonpublicly gone through so much herself, is the biggest gift I’ll ever get.

“I’ve always told them both that there’s nothing they couldn’t do. I’m so glad they listened.”

For a video capturing a chapter in Garrett’s journey into the powerlifting spotlight, click here.