WCMessenger.com: Lady Panthers are state bound

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Lady Panthers are state bound

By Robert Morgan | Published Thursday, March 4, 2009

As if the last six weeks were not good enough for the Paradise High School girls' powerlifting team, last weekend's regional championships in Leonard were even better. The Lady Panthers' small team of five captured second place in the team standings, and three members are headed to the state championships March 21 in Corpus Christi.

Seniors Bridget Meyer and Briana Lambert and sophomore Carolina McDowell finished first, second and third, respectively, in the Region IV, Division III meet.

"This meet was competitive, and like all regional meets, there were tremendous emotional highs and heartbreaking lows," said PHS coach Kevin Pitman. "It has been a very good year for the Lady Panthers. We are graduating four girls this year, but the foundation for continued success has been laid."

Meyer had the best day of all and even got in a little redemption in the 123.5 weight class. She won the regional championship with 730 pounds, and beat out the competitor, by 40 pounds, who eliminated her in a tie-breaker last year and kept her from advancing to the state finals.

The Lady Panther broke a regional record with a 325-pound squat. She also tallied a 150 bench press and a 255 deadlift.

Lambert is going back to the state championship for a second time after she finished second at regionals in the 148.4 division with 800 pounds. She had a 320 squat, 150 bench press and a 330 deadlift.

"Our goal for Briana was to stay solid and take the next step - return to state," Pitman said. "She is the only Lady Panther to have competed at the state level."

McDowell is state-bound after taking home third place honors in the 114.5 weight class and attaining the state qualifying total of 610 pounds after she tallied 625. She posted a 250 squat, 120 bench press and a 255 deadlift.

"Carolina was very quiet this weekend; just taking it all in and not really knowing what to expect," Pitman said. "There are some great things waiting to happen in her lifting future."

Kelly Lewis just missed advancing to state in the 123.5 weight class, but she finished with a decorated powerlifting career. The senior was fifth overall with 630 pounds, which included a 260 squat, 110 bench press and a 260 deadlift.

"Kelly set a new personal-best in the deadlift. She tried to hit 280 to achieve the qualifying total but just could not quite lock the lift out," Pitman said. "She is a two-time regional qualifier and has been the model for determination and consistency over the past two years."

Mae Cunningham brought her first season of powerlifting to an end by finishing seventh place in the 132.5 division where she lifted 645 pounds. She had a personal record 275 squat, 125 bench press and a 245 deadlift.

"We got into a position of having to try more personal bests to win a qualifying spot rather than attempting to tie and win the tiebreaker," Pitman explained. "I asked Mae what she wanted to do, and she said 'lets go for it.' I love her attitude, and I have no doubt that she will make it to state next year."