Wise County Messenger Online

Paradise High School power lifting coach Kevin Pitman liked his boys' teams chances of getting a state bid this year. After all, he had an amazing 11 athletes qualifying for the Region IV, Division II meet in Decatur last weekend.

His Panthers delivered what could be the best performance in the school's history. Nine competitors captured medals and five finished first or second in their weight class to earn a trip to the state finals while leading Paradise to the team regional championship.

"Yes, I am very proud of them," said an enthusiastic Pitman, who will be in Abilene March 29 watching his team compete for state gold. "They have worked hard. They earned it."

The regional title is the second in four years for the Panthers. They also won it in 2005 during Pitman's first season leading the program.

Paradise, which had several personal records broken, won the team crown with 37 points, well ahead of second-place Howe with 20. Henrietta was third with 16 points.

"These young men have worked extremely hard, have given up their Saturdays and have made the commitment to work out every morning before school, starting at 6 a.m.," Pitman added.

The state-bound Panthers include Zach Smith, Nick Pike, Kendall Dethloff, Cody Webber and Zach Strand who finished first or second in their weight classes. PHS female powerlifter Briana Lambert took second at regionals last weekend and will compete at state next weekend in Killeen.

Smith won the regional championship for the 148.5 weight class where he had the top regional total all year and did not disappoint at the finals. He tied a personal best and broke two others to win the title with 1,090 pounds.

The standout matched his season-best squat with 435 pounds. He set new marks in bench press at 335 and deadlift at 425.

The other four Panthers took second-place honors to secure their state tickets.

Dethloff went into the meet ranked number two in the region in the 181.5 division and finished that way. He set a personal record on squat with 520 pounds and matched his season best in bench of (310) and deadlift of (480) for a record total of 1,310 pounds.

Pike also dominated in the 198.5 competition where he tied his record of 1,335 pounds. The standout broke the Division III regional bench press record at 330 pounds.

He squatted a personal best 530 and also pulled a season-best-tying 475 deadlift.

The 220.5 class was the surprise of the day. Webber entered the meet ranked third in the region but set personal records in all four totals to take second.

He squatted 510, bench pressed 350 pounds and deadlifted 470 pounds on his way to a new personal record total of 1,330 pounds.

Strand lived up to his ranking as he took the silver medal in the 275.5 weight class. He got off to a rocky start on squat after missing his opening lift but nailed 530 pounds on his second try.

He recovered in the next lift when he landed a personal record of 350 on the bench press and matched his season best of 480 pounds in deadlift. The lifts also gave him a new personal best total of 1,360 pounds.

Caleb Page missed state by one spot as he took third place in the 181.5 action. After setting a personal record on squat with 500 pounds, he followed that with the scariest moment of the day.

On his first attempt on bench press, the bar rolled back onto his throat. The spotters and loaders got the weight off him quickly and without injury. Page then benched 325 and tied a season-high 450 in deadlift for a new personal best total of 1,275.

Jacob Morris went into the meet ranked eight in the region in the 132.5 division and finished fourth. He matched his season best squat of 270 , set a new personal record with a 185 bench press and set a new personal record of 335 in the deadlift for a personal record total of 790.

Kainen Nelms took seventh-place honors in the 165.5 weight class. He squatted 410, benched 255 and deadlifted 405 pounds for a total of 1,070.

P.J. Fuller equaled his regional ranking as he was eighth in the same division. He matched his personal best 450 squat, bench pressed 205 and deadlifted 415 for a season-best 1,070 pounds.

In the 220.5 competition, Corgan Andrews entered the meet ranked seventh but made up some ground to take third overall.

He squatted a personal best 500, benched 260 , and deadlifted a personal best 440. The new marks gave him a new personal best total of 1,200 pounds. Corgan finished third in this weight class.

Clayton Pittman entered the meet ranked fifth in the same weight class and finished fourth. He matched his best squat of 480, benched 225 and matched his best deadlift of 450 pounds to finish with a total of 1,155.