North Platte, Ne - The North Platte High School Powerlifting team wrapped up their team season in Verdigre, NE on Saturday. The Bulldogs teams walked away big winners, as the girls took home the overall team trophy, the boys finished second overall, and the coed team also left the competition as champions.
All 9 girls medaled at the event, with Abby Dimmitt, Ani Zakrzewski-Aten, and Grace Wilke earning first place medals, with Myah Porter, Carly Berliner, Karly Knapp, Kourtnie Bokoskie, Allie Einspahr, and Abby Hankla also earning hardware. Zakrzewski-Aten also picked up an Outstanding Female Lifter award. For the boys, Andrew Cummings, Drake Ferris, and Seth Penn were individual weight division champions, with Alex Cummings, Parker Clang, Jamison Rhoades, Mason Stine, Brock Matuszczak, and Cole Tomlinson also medaling in their divisions.
On the day, 57 personal records were set by the team, along with at least 4 school records. Coach Arttie Parker said it was a great way to close out the team season, as the Bulldogs competed against more than a dozen teams, including Lincoln Northeast, Grand Island, Lexington, Grand Island Central Catholic, and host Niobrara-Verdigre.
More than 200 lifters were on hand for the event. "It means a lot to these kids, and to this program, to finish on such a high note. We're graduating several great kids, and to be able to send each of them out as a medalist at their final meet was huge. I couldn't be more proud of the way all of our kids competed today." While the team season is over, several lifters will continue to compete in individual events. Parker said that both Penn and Dimmitt will compete at an upcoming meet in Lincoln, NE, and Dimmitt has her eyes set on the National Meet in Baton Rouge, LA later this Spring. "She already has the poundage numbers to qualify, she just has to do it at a USAPL sanctioned event, which is what Lincoln is," Parker said. Other lifters have expressed plans to compete at the Cornhusker State Games this Summer.