NPHS Powerlifting
The North Platte High School Powerlifting wrapped up its competitive season on Saturday, competing at the Orchard AAU Meet in Orchard, NE. This meet, unlike the others the team competes in throughout the year, is not strictly a high school event.
"I love this Orchard meet, as it is a real eye-opener for the kids," Coach Arttie Parker indicated. "This is a very big meet, held over two days, with lifters from five different states competing. Lifters range in age from middle school to masters lifters in their 60s. It's a lot of fun to see the kids eyes light up when it's announced someone is attempting to set an American or World record. I believe 3 or 4 AAU World Records were set, along with several AAU American records, and numerous state records.
"For the Bulldogs, it was a great close to the competitive team season, as in addition to Co-Ed Team Runner Up, and Adult/Youth Team Runner Up trophies, multiple lifters brought home medals. Placing at Orchard were:
Andrew Cummings--1st at 123 pounds and winner of the Outstanding Lightweight Lifter Award
Aadyn Smith--1st at 132 pounds.
Jameson Rhoades--5th in a stacked 165 pound division.
Brock Matuszczak--1st at 220 pounds.
Seth Penn--1st at 242 pounds.
"Everyone of those guys comes back next season. We will see big things from these kids," Parker predicted.
On the girls' side:
Myah Porter--2nd at 97 pounds
Abby Hankla--1st at 114 pounds Grace Wilke--1st at 198 pounds, plus 1st in the 198 pound Open Ironman Division, which consists of just bench press and deadlift, where she competed against high schoolers and adults.
"I can't say enough about those three girls. All three are freshmen, and it's exciting to think about what's coming up for them," Parker stated.
Also pitching in at 123 pounds was another freshman, Addison Simmons, who picked up 1st place in her very first meet.
"Addison's father reached out to me about getting his daughter involved in the sport.
She attends Hastings Adams Central High School, which doesn't have a team. Her dad is a substitute teacher for NPPSD, and her step-mom works for the district also, so I said she should just join us in Orchard, since it's not a strictly a high school meet," Coach Parker said. "She did a great job, and it was great to have her fill in at 123 pounds, as our regular lifter wasn't there.
"The reason for the absence was because that lifter, Abby Dimmitt, was competing the same day at USAPL High School Nationals in Baton Rouge, LA. "Abby went to Baton Rouge and represented herself, her school, and our team extremely well," Parker explained. "She struggled all week to drop the last pound or so to get to competition weight, but she made it and put up some solid numbers."
At Nationals, Dimmitt set a personal record in the squat, just missed her PR in bench press, and tallied a solid deadlift to close out her senior season. "Not a bad way to go out, on a national stage like that, "Parker said. "We're all super proud of Abby. We were all watching her on our phones in between lifts. It was exciting!"
Several lifters will compete in individual events, including the Star City Showdown in Lincoln this May, and the Cornhusker State Games in July. Penn will also be competing at USAPL Regionals in Wisconsin in June.