By Robert Morgan | Published Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Paradise High School powerlifting teams are just four weeks into the season but already on pace to have their most successful season ever. The group dominated the field last weekend in Santo where 272 competitors and 39 teams were on hand.
The Panthers made it their best day of the year so far as they walked away with the team championship with 31 points in a field of 22 teams. The girls' team was second overall among 17 other schools with 26 points.
"Overall, our boys and girls had another good day," said PHS coach Kevin Pitman.
Three Panthers took home gold medals in the boys' action. Justin Tucker, Scotty Lancaster and Nick Pike captured first place honors. Nine out of 10 Paradise competitors finished in the top five of their weight classes.
Tucker was tops in the 148.5-pound division where he finished with 1,105 total pounds on bench press, squat and deadlift. Teammate Gage Langley was fifth in the same group with 945 pounds.
Lancaster was the strongest athlete in the 181.5 weight class where three lifts equaled 1,110 pounds. Pike, who competed in the 198.5 division, had the most weight of all his teammates as he racked up 1,380 pounds.
Two Paradise standouts placed in the top five of the 242.5 weight class. Clayton Pittman was second with 1,300 pounds, just ahead of Jackson Cunningham who was fifth with 1,160.
Corgan Andrews and Jimmy Coffman captured third-place honors for their efforts. Coffman posted 465 pounds in the 114.5 weight class, while Andrews finished with 1,315 pounds in the 220.5 division.
Dalton Blankenship was fifth in the 123.5 weight class with 575 pounds. P.J. Fuller competed for the first time this season after having foot surgery and finished sixth in the 165.5 weight class with 1,025 pounds.
On the girls' side, three of the five Lady Panthers took home the first-place prize in leading the small team to a big finish.
Bridget Meyer won her second straight meet of the season and was named "best lifter" for all the lightweight classes. She won the 123.5 weight class with 690 pounds.
Brianna Lambert also won her second title of the season in the 148.5 division where she accumulated 800 pounds. Carolina McDowell captured her first gold of the season with a first-place total of 625 pounds in the 114.5 division.
Kelly Lewis delivered a third-place performance in the 123.5 weight class with a total of 620 pounds. Mae Cunningham took home fourth place in the 132.5 division with 605 pounds.
