9-25-2026 4:32am

Amy Caprio Classic

Every September since 2022, the Amy Caprio Classic, organizes a push/pull powerlifting competition to honor the memory of fallen Baltimore County Police Officer Amy Caprio and her love for animals, with the event benefiting BARCS. This one-day event takes place at Exile Gym in Rosedale, MD, within the Exile Barbell Club. Join the competition on Saturday, September 21!

The push/pull powerlifting competition focuses on two specific lifts: the bench press (push) and the deadlift (pull). Unlike traditional powerlifting meets that include squats, this event highlights upper body strength.

To learn more and register, click the following link. Registration ends on September 7: https://www.amycaprioclassic.com/register

Participants can register to compete, with all registration fees initially covering event operations. Any additional funds raised will be donated directly to BARCS Animal Shelter.

`Exile Fitness 8303 Pulaski Hwy, Baltimore, MD 21237`

Ofc. Amy Sorrells Caprio

Age: 29

Tour: 3 years, 8 months

Badge: 5785

End of Watch:
Monday, May 21, 2018

Click to visit the "Officer Down Memorial Page" to learn more

Amy's Love for Animals

From Amy's Mom, Debbie:

Our live-in nanny, Jacqueline, already had 4 years of experience raising and caring for our other two daughters. When we brought Amy home from the hospital and unwrapped her on the rug, Jacque came right over. Amy was welcomed into our family with sniffs and licks, as well as cuddles from her two older sisters. Jacque raised all three of our girls - teaching them how to walk by holding onto her, cleaning up their food messes, keeping them herded when playing outside, and staying close when they spent time with the horses and cats next door. Jacque even went on family vacations and taught the cats we adopted how to behave in the house. Most importantly, Jacque taught the girls respect, responsibility, and unconditional love.

Amy went on to work at the Timonium Animal Hospital part-time while she was going to school. As soon as she started driving, she added a leash to her Jeep’s equipment. She never knew when she would see a dog wondering along the side of a road. She was like a “dog magnet” one of her officer friend’s said. Amy would pull over and inevitably, the dog would come to her, hop in her Jeep, and Amy would find it’s home or bring it to the house until she found the owners. This carried into her policing career - a leash and dog treats were part of her patrol car equipment, too.

But it wasn’t just dogs that Amy loved. While at Essex, she saw a turtle attempting to cross a busy road. She stopped the patrol car and carried the turtle to safety on the other side. Another time, while on patrol, she came across a large, injured bird and was able to assist it getting the help it needed. And all the while, calls for “dog sightings” continued to come in.

In her married life, Amy and Tim adopted Doodle, a brindle Pit mix, from The Humane Society of Harford County. Doodle is now ten years old and remains very much loved by Tim and her extended family - which includes her many four-legged peers. She is a living reminder of Amy and her love for animals.

Fundraising Totals:

2022

1st Annual Classic:

$7,500

2023

2nd Annual Classic:

$10,000

2024

3rd Annual Classic:

$20,000

2025

4th Annual Classic:

$25,000

Total Amount Raised to Date:

$62,500

OVERVIEW

A push/pull powerlifting competition is a strength-based event where athletes compete in two specific lifts: the bench press (push) and the deadlift (pull). Unlike traditional powerlifting competitions, which also include the squat, a push/pull competition focuses solely on upper body pushing and pulling movements.

Here's a breakdown of what the competition will look like:

Competitors weigh in before the competition to ensure they're within their respective weight classes.

Athletes warm up before their attempts to prepare their muscles and nervous system for the heavy lifting.

Competitors take turns attempting to lift as much weight as possible in the bench press. Each lifter usually gets three attempts to lift increasingly heavier weights. The lifter must lower the barbell to their chest, pause, press it upward until their arms are fully extended and then rack the weight, each on verbal command. The heaviest successful lift is recorded as their score for the bench press portion of the competition.

There's usually a brief intermission between the bench press and deadlift portions of the competition to allow competitors to rest and prepare for the next lifts.

During this time, feel free to grab some food, visit our vendor booths or buy tickets for our various raffles.

In the deadlift portion, competitors attempt to lift as much weight as possible off the ground. As with the bench press, lifters typically get three attempts, with the heaviest successful lift recorded as their score for the deadlift portion of the competition. The deadlift involves lifting a loaded barbell from the floor to a standing position, with the lifter maintaining a straight back throughout the movement.

After all lifters have completed their attempts, awards are presented to the top performers in each division based on their combined scores from the bench press and deadlift.

**Winner Based on WILKS Score**