Girl power takes center stage

Four Wise County athletes are competing for state gold this weekend

Published Thursday, March 13, 2008

By Robert Morgan

Wise County has become a hotbed for powerlifting. The area is loaded with talent and Decatur has hosted the regional meet for the last three years.

That's why it should be no surprise that the area will also be represented at the Texas High School Women's Powerlifting Association's state championships this weekend. Four local standouts from Decatur, Paradise and Alvord will be in Killeen competing for the sport's ultimate prize.

For the fifth straight year Wise County has been represented in the finals. This year, however, is the largest group to ever make the trip.

The action will get under way on Friday when Class 1A, 2A and 5A schools hit the weights. Unlike other sports, all of the state's classifications - regardless of school sizes - are combined into one event.

Two local athletes will battle the state's strongest on Friday. Briana Lambert of Paradise and Paige Klein will be in action starting at 8 a.m.

Lambert, the only returning veteran for the Lady Panthers, will compete in the 148-pound weight class where she is ranked third with a qualifying total of 765 pounds. Ysassi Cecilia of Banquete has the most weight at 810 pounds, just ahead of Leonard's Sarah Harris at 810.

Klein, who did not compete this past year, is making her first trip to state and will compete in the 132 division where she is seeded sixth with 665 pounds. Crawford's Kelsey Fritscher is the one to beat with 750 pounds.

Two standouts from Decatur will be in action on Saturday when Class 3A and 4A schools steal the show. Krystal Sherman was the last DHS female to go to state, and she won her second straight crown two years ago.

Tamara Croft will be making her first trip to state in the 198 weight class where she is seeded eighth with a qualifying total of 625 pounds. Lerma Brittney of Port Isabel and Jasmine Adams are the leaders of the pack with 955 pounds, which is 95 more than the third seed.

Decatur will also be represented in the 220 division where Chloe Dey will be competing after qualifying with 770 pounds. Her tough group is led by Diane Forrest of Ingleside who has a state-best 975 pounds.

The boys' state championships are March 29 in Abliene.