Isaiah Searight is shown on the way to becoming a professional. Photo credit: Isaiah Searight
By CHRIS CHRISTOPHER
Isaiah Searight has become a professional athlete.
The former Monmouth Regional High School football and basketball player earned his International Fitness and BodyBuilding Federation card after placing second in the Class D Classic Physique Division at the Junior USA’s, a National Physique Committee show in Charleston, S.C. The IFBB oversees many of the sport’s major international events, notably the World and Continental Championships.
Classes are based on height. Searight stood 6-foot-4 and weighed 246 pounds at the show, the fourth of his career.
“I had a very nice shape and flow,” he said. “I have a very athletic build–one of the prettiest physiques if you will. That is what impressed the judges. They were also impressed with my conditioning and leanness.”
The show consisted of more than 200 athletes. They competed in front of more than 200 fans.
“Was I nervous?” asked Searight, repeating a question. “Not really. I have been on some pretty big stages in athletics. I was more excited than anything else. When I learned I qualified for the card, there was excitement, but there also was a little bit of disappointment as I wanted to win the entire show. It was a kick in the teeth. I wanted to clean house and sweep the show. I wish I brought a better package to win the show.
“It was a bittersweet ending to the season, but I lost to the man who won the whole show and rightfully so.”
Searight competed in Astroflav gear.
“I am always rocking my Astroflav gear on show day,” he said. “Love throwing it on. Feels like my jersey on game day! So proud to represent this brand and team!”
He qualified for the event, winning the Jay Cutler Classic in Boston. These days, Searight is a 6-foot-4, 296-pounder who hopes to weigh 300 pounds.
“Now that I am in the pros, I gotta gain size,” said Searight, 27. “I have to shoot up my weight and be competitive with the big dogs. My overall goal is to reach the Mr. Olympia Contest, one of which is in October. I am at least three years out from reaching that goal. I know at the present moment the goal seems out of reach, but I have to speak it first. It makes me nervous to share that goal with the world, but as cliche as it sounds your goals should scare you.
“I am slowly creeping up on that goal–300 pounds lean. Ideally, I would love to sit at that weight and ‘marinate’ for a few months before coming back down.”
Searight has overcome adversity.
“I have had a few setbacks and have made some changes, but I am rolling with the punches and making sure I am getting in the best work possible,” he said. “I have had some nagging injuries, tendinitis, minor pec tears. As a high performance individual, there is always something that will give you issues.”
To reach his goal, Searight consumes 6,000-6,500 calories per day. He prioritizes protein, consuming chicken, beef, salmon and eggs. He downs seven liters of water per day. He increases his strength at the Jersey Shore Fitness Shop in Bradley Beach.
“It can be a lot of food for sure,” he said. “Being a pro feels really good. I began competing 2 1/2 years ago.”:
Searight trains five days per week. Flesh punishing sessions last from 90 minutes to two hours. He has been known to bench press 225 pounds 50 times with a maximum near 500 pounds. He has deadlifted 575 pounds six times with a maximum near 700 pounds. And he has back squatted 550-600 pounds.
Searight does 20-25 minutes of cardiovascular training each morning. He performs high intensity workouts during the offseason. While preparing for a contest, his cardio workouts wear on for as many as 90 minutes daily.
“My favorite part of bodybuilding is the training,” he said. “Every now and then, it is cool to see where your strength is. My legs are the toughest to train, but they are usually the toughest body part for anybody to train. What you present is 100 percent of yourself. It is a level of accountability that I embrace.
“I hit every body part around twice per week so I just split it up. There are no mental challenges to training. I thrive on structure. It keeps me sane and elevates all aspects of my life. When I am on a schedule, it’s when I do my best work.”
Searight relies on support from his “village.” Team Searight consists of his wife, Carlie, who was scheduled to deliver the couple’s first child, a boy, at the Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch on Tuesday, Sept. 24; his sister, Madison; in-laws Sandy and Rich Burner of Tinton Falls; mom, Lisa; dad, Adrian and coach, Justin Mihaly of Austin, Tx.
Searight performed his one-minute routine to “Higher,” by Chris Stapleton. It was the couple’s wedding song. Searight said his wife was “surprised” to hear the song at the show.
“I will continue to make this thing a priority,” he said, “but right now I’m locked in on being the best husband and father I can be for my family. My wife recorded the show in South Carolina and was the loudest in the room. My coach, who I can call a 100 percent member of my family and my brother … he was rooting for me. This one hits hard. I could never do this without my village. Getting to do what you love with the people you love is special and I’ll never take it for granted.”
Searight does online fitness coaching as an assistant with Together More Fit, founded by Justin Mihaly.
“The challenge of pushing myself mentally and physically drew me in,” Searight said on the company’s website, “but it was the rich culture and supportive community that kept me captivated.”
Together More Fit offers tips on weight loss, muscle building, sport specific training and general lifestyle coaching.
“Changing lives, not just physiques,” it says on the company’s website.
“I coach all genders and ages,” Searight said. “We have clients in high school and clients in their mid-60s. It’s for anyone looking to get in the best shape of their life.” Searight began lifting weights at the age of 13 on the advice of his dad in the family’s garage. Equipment consisted of a bench press, back and leg machines and dumbbells. Searight trained with his dad and his father’s twin brother, Andre. Searight began his football career in Tinton Falls with the Monmouth Falcons of the Jersey Shore Pop Warner League.
“I trained to get stronger for football,” he said. ” I loved lifting weights right away. It has always been fun. I enjoyed it right off the bat. Competition developed among the three of us.”
Searight wrestled as a seventh and eighth grader at the Tinton Falls Middle School. He competed in basketball as a Monmouth freshman and sophomore before focusing on football. The 2015 graduate caught 76 passes for 887 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014. He set the Falcons’ record for the most receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches in a season and established the school’s single-game record for catches. The two-year team captain was a member of the Spanish Honor Society and a Maxwell Award recipient.
From Monmouth, it was off to Fordham University where he finished his career with 89 receptions for 1,119 yards and 10 touchdowns. He tied the Rams’ career record for touchdowns by a tight end and was the fourth player in school history with more than 1,000 career receiving yards. He was a three-year starter and the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2018. He was a three-time All-Patriot League selection. He was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
The 2018 graduate owns a bachelor of arts degree in finance. He graduated one year early to train for a National Football League career. He wound up in the New York Giants’ training camp as a tight end and undrafted free agent. He injured his right hip while warming up for a preseason game against the New York Jets in 2019. The injury required surgery and landed Searight on the injured reserve list, ending his career.
“The injury was because of the structure that God gave me,” said Searight, an advisor consultant with New York Life in New York City. “I ran a route, felt a pop and that was it. My agent pushed me to go to another team, but I was in a tough space because of the injury. I did not feel 100 percent. He had either one or two teams lined up. I did not want to push myself if I did not have 100 percent to give to football.
“I hired my bodybuilding coach after the injury. When football did not pan out, he said, ‘It would be a shame if you did not get on the bodybuilding stage at least one time.’ I won the first show I entered and have not looked back since.”
Now living in Neptune, Searight is happy with his life.
“I am doing well,” he said. “There is nothing to complain about in my world. A lot of good things are happening with me. I am very content, very blessed. A lot of great people have entered my life. I try to better myself every day. I keep pushing forward. I am very blessed.”
