Paradise wraps up preseason with top-five finishes
By Robert Morgan | Published Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Paradise High School powerlifting teams wrapped up the preseason last weekend in Iowa Park at a meet with 24 schools and 320 competitors. The event was the final chance for area athletes to earn a trip to the regional tournament.
The Lady Panthers did not disappoint head coach Kevin Pitman as they captured third place overall, while the boys were also impressive by finishing fifth.
In the girls' action, senior Briana Lambert had another solid showing as she won her third meet of the season en route to being named "best lifter" among all the heavyweight divisions. Lambert, who competes in the 165.5 weight class, lifted 820 pounds, which included a 320 squat, 160 bench press and a 340 deadlift.
Bridget Meyers is one of the state's best in the 132.5 divison, and she proved it again with a second place finish while being named "best lifter" among all the lightweight divisions for the second straight week. Her 710-pound total included a 285 squat, 155 bench press and a 270 deadlift.
Mae Cunningham finished just two places behind Meyer in the same division with 650 pounds. She inked a 275 squat, 140 bench press and a 235 deadlift.
Carolina McDowell found gold at the end of the powerlifting rainbow as she took first place in the 114.5 class with 635 pounds. Her three events included a 250 squat, 115 bench press and a 270 deadlift.
The Lady Panthers also got valuable points from Kelly Lewis who took home second place in the 123.5 weight class. Her 625-pound total included a 260 squat, 115 bench press and a 255 deadlift.
The Texas Women's Powerlifting Association will release the regional qualifiers this week for the girls division. The top 12 lifters in each region will advance, regardless of school size.
In the boys' action, four of the six Panthers finished in the top three of their divisions, and all six were in the top five.
The Paradise boys were led by a first-place performance by Caleb Page in the 181.5 weight class. He finished with 1,370 pounds, which included a 500 squat, 390 bench press and a 480 deadlift.
Scotty Lancaster competed in the same division where he took fifth overall with 1,200 pounds. He tallied a 440 squat, a 300 bench press and a 460 deadlift.
Paradise took home two of the top spots in the 242.5 divison where Clayton Pittman and Jackson Cunningham finished second and third, respectively. Pittman accumulated 1,320 pounds (540 squat, 265 bench press, 515 deadlift), while Cunningham had 1,285 (420 squat, 365 bench press, 500 deadlift).
Nick Pike lifted 1,370 pounds to take second place in the 198.5 weight class. His totals included a 535 squat, 330 bench press and a 505 deadlift.
Corgan Andrews won fifth place in the 220.5 action. His team-best 1,385 pounds included a 550 squat, 285 bench press and a 515 deadlift.
The top 10 boys in each weight class will advance to the finals against Class 2A and 1A finalists which will also be announced next week.
