COLUMBUS, Ohio - It's one of the most famous fitness conventions in the entire country.

The Arnold Sport Festival took place this past weekend in Columbus and two men from the Mahoning Valley left their mark on several Arnold Classic competitions.

Youngstown's Matthew Hodge won the XPC Powerlifting Elite competition, where you must weigh 309 lbs plus to qualify.

"I totaled 2,500 pounds and three lifts which is a squat, the bench and the dead lift," Hodge explained. "You have three attempts at each lift and I came away with a 940 lb squat, a 840 lb bench and a 720 lb dead lift."

Candidates had to put up a minimum of 2,200 pounds or more to qualify. 

Hodge co-owns Goonfit Powerlifting on Youngstown's east side with his friend Nick Durse.

"Winning at the Arnold is a big deal," Durse said. "For him to represent both Goonfit Powerlifting but also the Mahoning Valley is really spectacular. It's going up against stiff competition from around the country."

"I was 15 lbs away from the pro class," Hodge said. "That weekend, I actually totaled better than all the pros, too. It was huge."

Hodge said his biggest roadblock in the lifestyle revolves around injuries that limit the amount of weight he can lift.

"You can't train as hard and you can't train as heavy," Hodge explained.

When reflecting on Hodge's success and this year's Arnold, Durse described it as also being the entire Goonfit Powerlifting team's success. 

"We're all a team here," Durse said. "Which separates us from a lot of other lifting groups or gyms."

Youngstown's Aaren Hilson took home the Classic Physique award from the Arnold Amateur Competition. He trains at Global Health & Fitness in Warren and started bodybuilding at a young age as a coping mechanism.

"During times where life was tough, it was always good to have something positive to work towards," Hilson said. 

Hilson said he had to make several lifestyle sacrifices to focus on bodybuilding. "Different things like friends, social events," Hilson expalined. "I had a goal and I wanted it so I did whatever I could to make it happen."

Hilson works as a personal trainer through his online coaching business called Hilson Fitness.

"I kind of started this business because I had a genuine interest in health and fitness," Hilson said. "So, I figured, while I'm learning I can continue teaching other people."

Both Hilson and Hodge competed at the Arnold after attending as spectators years back.

When 21 News asked them if they've ever thought about giving up on the sport that requires such a strict lifestyle, they responded:

"It just feels good getting that lift and getting that goal you set," Hodge said. 

"As soon as you asked that question I thought, nope, I could never give it up because it makes me who I am."

Hodge and Durse also host power lifting competitions at Goonfit Powerlifting. 

"It doesn't matter if you lift 50 or 1,000 lbs. Everybody gets the same treatment, coaching and hypeness," Hodge said. "It doesn't matter the weight on the bar. If you're working, learning and putting in with everybody else." 

"Anyone who's interested in powerlifting, just get started and learn as much as you can," Durse added. 

Both Hodge and Hilson hope to return to the Arnold and hopefully reach the pro divison.