Bears, Mustangs rack up powerlifting medals

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Bears, Mustangs rack up powerlifting medals

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

The West Orange-Stark and Little Cypress-Mauriceville powerlifting teams walked away with a bunch of first-place finishes at their respective meets over the weekend with LC-M competing at the Lumberton Meet and WO-S at the Newton Meet.

Mustang Mario Rose continues to dominate in the 181-pound division as he claimed it by a 210-pound lifting margin with 1,345 pounds after squatting 475 pounds, bench pressing 325 pounds and dead-lifting 545 pounds.

‘Mario is ranked No. 1 in the region and is just doing a great job,†said Mustang head coach Randy Crouch. “Weightlifting isn’t exactly the funnest thing to do but Mario takes great pride in it and works so hard.â€

Rose had plenty of help from his teammates.

Cedric Dantzler won the 114-pound class with 705 pounds (275 squat, 130 bench, 300 d-lift). Leatrice Robinson captured the 132-pound division with 955 pounds (325 squat, 195 bench, 435 d-lift). Robert Jiles won the 165-pound class by a close five-pound margin, totaling 1,060 pounds (400 squat, 210 bench, 450 d-lift). Mustang Eric Arnold claimed the 242-pound division with 1,200 pounds (500 squat, 260 bench, 440 d-lift).

In the 181-pound class WO-S also received a fifth-place finish from Carltives (1,010 pounds). Mustang Josh Lynch finished fourth in the 198-pound class with 1,050 pounds.

“The kids have had an excellent season thus far,†Crouch said. “We’re bringing a solid group to regionals. Leatrice is ranked No. 2 in the region going in. It would be nice to get some of these guys to the state meet.â€

The Bear boys finished second overall and the Lady Bears notched third.

Chris Sonnier captured first place in the 114-pound class with 985 pounds and was named the most outstanding lifter at his meet for the fourth consecutive week. Bear teammate Kevin Greer nabbed first in the 132-pound division with 1,080 pounds. Joseph Viator placed second in the 181-pound class with 1,235 pounds.

All three Bears will compete at the Class 4A Region III Meet at Houston Westside this Saturday.

“Those guys have had a phenomenal year,†said Bear head coach Brian Waguespack. “Chris is ranked not only No. 1 in the region but No. 1 in the state by 45 pounds. The guy behind him in state right now is the one that beat him at state last year so I’d say Chris is certainly motivated. Kevin is also ranked No. 1 in the region.â€

On the girls’ side, Lady Bear Falon Sheppard won first in the 123-pound class with 680 pounds. Megan Stanley was second in the 114-pound division with 650 pounds and Rachel Warren claimed second in the 220-pound class with 710 pounds. Maegan Fontenot was third in the 105-pound division (405 pounds) and Amanda Ellison was fourth in the 105-pound class (370 pounds).

In the junior varsity division at Newton WO-S’ Brandon Arnold won the 198-pound division with 950 pounds (380 squat, 205 bench, 365 d-lift).

Sheppard, Stanley and Warren will be at the regional meet as well.

“I’m so thrilled to be able to work with all the kids,†said Waguespack. “They have such great work ethics and energy. It’s not easy to come up to the fieldhouse on Saturdays and lift weights all the time. That takes someone special.â€