Pioneer Powerlifters Take Nationals
On Friday and Saturday, April 1st and 2nd, 2016, the Gentry Pioneer powerlifters traveled to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to compete in the annual high school powerlifting competition. The Pioneers have 13 lifters. These lifters include seniors Kaven Flesner, Keeten Jones, Kong Lor, Tylor Lor, Tyous Lor and Petter Thao; junior Trey Welch; sophomores Lawrence Caro, Tanner Christie, Mason Clark, Chance Cooper, Tomas Gomez, and Khang Yang.
Top from left to right: Coach Stan Hobbs, Trey Welch, Mason Clark, Kong Lor, Tomas Gomez, Keeten Jones, Chance Cooper, Tanner Christie, and Coach Sean Seligman. Bottom from left to right: Khang Yang, Tyous Lor, Kaven Flesner, Lawrence Caro, Tylor Lor, and Petter Thao.
Senior Keeten Jones said, “In the end it doesn’t matter how much weight is on the bar, it doesn’t matter what place you got, or who did better than you. What matters is if you went out there with all the ferocity that you have deep inside of you and gave it your all. The team gave it their all and came out on top in 9 out of the 14 divisions. I am proud of everyone that competed that day. No one person had anything left to give because they knew what it meant to make that lift. Only those in the iron culture know what it means to make that lift.”
This is the second year that the Pioneers have competed in the NASA High School Powerlifting Nationals. Last year they won a National Championship in two different divisions. This year the Pioneers won 1st place in nine divisions, 2nd place in two divisions, 3rd place in three divisions, and 4th place in one division.
Overall, the Pioneers won the competition with the highest total amount of points. Our powerlifters competed against over 300 different lifters, thus making the win a huge accomplishment.
Coach Seligman told us, “Lawrence Caro set three national records in bench press, push-pull, and powerpress in the 114 lb. division. Khang Yang set two national records in powerpress and push-pull in the 123 lb. class. Mason Clark set a national record for push-pull in the 242 lb. class. Chance Cooper set a national record in push-pull in the 275 lb. class.
Powerlifting gives students that don’t play other sports the opportunity to compete, and the students who do play sports, it makes them better in their sport. We are looking forward to next year to see if we can win another championship. Overall, this was a great year in powerlifting.”
“‘Strength is a state of mind.’ It went great. We won 7 out of 15 events and placed at least 4th in the rest. I entered 3 divisions and won all 3,” said sophomore Lawrence Caro.
If you see any of the Pioneer powerlifters, make sure to congratulate them on this big win!
