By: Troy MacNeill

AAU Strength Sports is a staple in the Bowens household and that is due in large part to Martin Drake. During the inaugural Lifting for Cancer Awareness event, AAU Cares and the Bowens family paid a special tribute to one of AAU Strength Sports’ most important people.
 
Bryan Bowens, along with his wife Michelle Juanatas-Bowens, and their daughters Mikaella and Brianna have been dedicated to bringing more and more members into AAU Strength Sports and giving back while along the way. They learned so much about the strength sports landscape thanks to Martin Drake who was a mentor to so many along the way.
 
For more than 60 years, Martin Drake’s name was synonymous with AAU Strength Sports. A longtime AAU volunteer, Drake served as the National Chairman for Strength Sports from 2010 until his passing earlier this year at the age of 73. But his involvement in AAU ran longer than the sport of powerlifting has existed. Drake first joined the AAU in 1962 to participate in weightlifting and was there to begin powerlifting when the first tournament was held for it in 1964. He was an active competitor in all age groups of the sport, including as recently as 2019.


 
Through his efforts, AAU combined Powerlifting, Weightlifting, Mas Wrestling, Bodybuilding, and Feats of Strength under the umbrella of Strength Sports, and he was the chairman of it all. He would serve as Meet Director of over 50 AAU meets. The Bowen family is making sure to carry on Drake’s legacy today.
 
Bryan, Michelle, Mikaella, and Brianna learned so much wisdom from Martin Drake about their future in both Weightlifting and Powerlifting. This wisdom has prolonged their lifting careers and allowing them to lift more than ever expected. At the Inaugural Lifting for Cancer Awareness, the family showcased their strength while also spreading the message about awareness and the importance of getting checked. AAU Cares shirts were also present for spectators as we continue to spread the message and do what Martin Drake would’ve done himself.


 
Martin Drake helped get the Bowens started on their journey in the world of Strength Sports and they were there by his side until his final day. To honor his legacy and give him a final thank you, the family retired their pink lifting singlets and will continue to host the Lifting for Cancer Awareness in years to come.
 
Watch the special tribute to Martin Drake on the Team Juanatas-Bowens YouTube channel.
 
To read more about Martin Drake and the legacy he has cemented with the AAU, click here.