Cajuns’ powerlifter, Jase Zachary, takes his strength to South Korea 

Jase Zachary didn’t expect college to be in his future, let alone on a scholarship for powerlifting. But after his coach, Joe Ryan, suggested he try the sport in his junior year of high school, he discovered both his talent and purpose. 

His initial success in powerlifting seemed miraculous, especially to him, but the next stop on his journey is no accident. In December, Zachary will compete on Team USA in Seoul, South Korea, in the Open and Masters World Championships for the International Drug-Free Powerlifting Association (IDFPA). 

The competition will be held from Dec. 11-14. This is the first international competition for the IDFPA, so lifters from countries around the world will be competing. Though they compete individually, in powerlifting their points go toward the overall team score, as well as their personal score. There are currently 338 lifters competing. Some countries of origin include China, Mexico and South Korea. 

At Open Nationals on July 27, 2025, a national powerlifting meet open to anyone, Zachary got second place in his weight class of 75kg (165lbs) qualifying him for the competition in South Korea. When the IDFPA extended the invitation, Zachary didn’t hesitate to accept. 

Although this is one of the biggest stages for the sport, Zachary said he’s more nervous for the 18-hour flight than the actual competition. This might sound cocky to some, but for Zachary, South Korea is just another meet where he intends to be the best. 

In preparation for the competition, he wrote a 12-week program leading up to his trip to South Korea. Each day of the program consists of different workouts. On certain days, he will either squat, deadlift or bench, the three competing categories at meets. Along with various other cardio and stretching workouts, he also targets “weaknesses” by doing more of a workout he feels he needs to improve on. 

“And… I know what comes with that. It’s not like no secret code or anything. You just gotta be disciplined, stay consistent,” he explained. 

Not every lift will be the best, but Zachary sees failure as another lesson to hone his craft. In contrast to his present calm nature, Zachary described himself as hardheaded in his earlier years. 

In 2020, Zachary first began his collegiate career on scholarship at Blue Mountain College in Mississippi, where he had strict schedules, mandatory study halls and mandatory team breakfasts. Thereafter, Zachary transferred to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in the fall of 2023 and joined Ragin’ Cajun Powerlifting. 

Rather than a collegiate varsity sport, UL Lafayette’s powerlifting team is a club sport, so adjusting to the more relaxed team routine was a learning curve. Since having his last official meet with UL Lafayette’s powerlifting team in July, Zachary fondly reflected on what both collegiate teams offered him. Blue Mountain taught him discipline, and UL Lafayette, with support from the team, taught him self-sufficiency. 

“There’s always somebody who knows more,” Zachary said. 

Listening is a cornerstone of Zachary’s success, and since the beginning of his powerlifting journey, Zachary learned not only from coaches, but from peers as well. 

One note he received from a peer was to relax more before meets. He used to go into every competition “locked in,” head down and completely silent. Today, he is the complete opposite, even saying he’ll hang out with his opponents before the competition. He added, though, that during the competition the camaraderie goes away and “it’s war.” 

Again, there is a palpable intensity. When he talks about powerlifting, a fire can almost be seen in his eyes. That fire and desire to win fuels every stretch, every lift, every squat and every bench press. 

His friend and former UL Lafayette teammate, Eric Washington, said he believes Zachary has been so successful because he just has “it.” 

“That passion for something,” emphasized Washington. “So, when you combine passion or work ethic and a little bit of love for the game, it’s just gonna come to you.” 

Washington explained that powerlifting is as much a mental sport as it is physical. Lifters have to convince themselves they can lift a weight that is usually many pounds heavier than their actual weight, along with training their bodies physically. Ego is necessary because if they don’t think they can do it, well, they probably won’t. Luckily, Zachary knows this mental workout just as well as he knows his physical ones. 

Washington summed up Zachary’s attitude perfectly, saying, “Well, a lot of people… yeah, that’s really big to go to South Korea. You know, for him, it’s just another day of business.”