By Jeffrey Reinhart
Published Sep 13, 2006 13:15
Turns out those athletes turned in some of the best performances in the country.
Competing at Norcum High School in Newport News, Va., July 29-30, Penn Manor’s powerlifters — pumping iron in the squat, bench and deadlift — won 11 gold medals, broke five national records, collected 120 team points, and finished second in the team competition.
Six girls and five boys took first place in their respective divisions.
“Did I expect them to do well? Yes,” said McDonnell, Penn Manor’s strength and conditioning coach, who started the powerlifting club team in 2002.
“Did I expect them to go down there and win 11 gold medals and break five national records? No,” he said.
Penn Manor competed in the Raw Division, meaning the only supportive equipment allowed was a belt; no knee or wrist wraps could be used, and no squat suits or bench shirts were permitted during the competition.
“The judging was super, super strict,” McDonnell said. “And our kids handled it so well.”
Here are the kids who won the medals, broke the records and helped the Comets finish second in the competition:
GIRLS
.000Tesla Atkins (field hockey player) — In the 114-pound weight class (age 16-17 division), she lifted 375 pounds total, good for first place.
.000Maggie Eshleman (field hockey player and track athlete) — In the 132-pound class (age 18-19 division), she lifted 485 pounds total, good for first place.
.000Beth Kirchner (soccer and volleyball player) — In the 148-pound weight class (age 18-19 division), she lifted 579 pounds, good for first place.
.000Chelsea Rebman (field hockey player) — In the 165-pound weight class (age 16-17 division), she lifted 667 total pounds — good for first place — including 255 pounds in the squat and 293 pounds in the deadlift. Those marks, plus the 667 total, are all national records.
.000Allie Reilly (track athlete) — In the unlimited class (age 16-17 division), she lifted 728 total pounds, which was good for first place. Her 165-pound bench press and 342-pound deadlift are new national records.
.000Connie Yost (field hockey player) — In the 148-pound weight class (age 16-17 division), she lifted 474 total pounds, good for first place.
Yost also received the Joel Farrell Award, given to the top performer in the competition. She is the second Penn Manor athlete to receive that award — making Penn Manor the only team with multiple Farrell Award winners.
Jared Bosso won it in 2004, the only other year Penn Manor sent a team to the AAU Junior Olympics.
“It was something special for Connie to be recognized,” McDonnell said.
BOYS
.000Jared Bosso (wrestler) — In the 132-pound weight class (age 18-19 division), he lifted a total of 777 pounds, good for first place. And his 281-pound squat is a new national record.
.000Jake Rebman (football player) — In the 181-pound weight class (age 14-15 division), he lifted a total of 1,003 pounds, good for first place.
.000Gian Romett (basketball player, track athlete) — In the 105-pound weight class (age 12-13 division), he lifted a total of 529 pounds, good for first place. He also attempted to break two national records, but came up just short.
.000Ben Schober (football player) — In the 220-pound weight class (age 14-15 division), he lifted a total of 986 pounds, good for first place.
.000Zane Walker (ice hockey player) — In the 123-pound weight class (age 14-15 division), he lifted a total of 672 pounds, good for first place.
McDonnell is also helping out with Solanco’s athletes and with Franklin & Marshall’s soccer program.
He’s also a successful powerlifter himself. In fact, he’s qualified for the World Championship, which is set for Nov. 11-12 in Kinsale, Ireland.
He has come up just short of winning in his other two appearances in the World Championship.
“Hopefully the third time is the charm,” McDonnell said.
