Powerlifting Kicks Off 2021 With Calvary Baptist Academy Invitational

Calvary hosted their annual kickoff powerlifting meet on Saturday.  The meet featured some 5A talent such as powerhouse West Monroe, but also had competing teams from District 1-A host Calvary, Haynesville, and Ringgold.

In the female division, West Monroe took 6 of the 11 weight classes.  Calvary, Natchitoches-Central each collect two divisions, and Cedar Creek gained one.   Calvary’s Skylar Odom took the Outstanding Female Lifter in the light platform.  West Monroe Kaylee Bonner captured Outstanding Female Lifter in the Heavy Platform.  

Cedar Creek took 4 of the 6 heavy platform divisions en route to 5 of the 11 overall divisions.  West Monroe and Ringgold captured two divisions.  North Desoto and Parkway each won a weight class. 

Calvary boys didn’t compete this weekend due to playing in the state champion this past week but were there to help out and cheer on the Lady Cavs.  Skylar Odom’s last attempt at 305 lbs. squat gave her a valid score and 25 lbs. more than her nearest competition as finishes out with a 150 lbs. bench and 300 lbs. deadlift for 755 lbs. and top of the podium in the 132.3 division.  Aubrey Mayo bench of 240 and bench of 135 lbs. edged out Cedar Creek’s Madelyn Carroll by 30 lbs. for the 123.5 division. Mayo’s total lift was 650lbs. Calvary placed six other lifters on the podium.  Emma Lazarus (97) and Pamela Lee (114.5) each finished second in their divisions.  Samantha Anderson, Hannah Guerrero, Breanne Jones, and Mireya Robinson finished third in their divisions. 

Cavalier head coach Daniel Vandeberg is having to replace three state champion wrestlers who unfortunately did not get to defend titles last year, but he sees the next person up philosophy kick in. “This group of seniors will always hold a special place in my heart. They were the ones that started the program. We replaced 3 state champions- Mya Evans, Kailey Brookshire, and Kaylin Little- from last year’s squad. Our philosophy is always the next man (woman) up. The best highlight of the day was not their lifts or awards, but taking the younger kids under their belt with leadership and team camaraderie.  I believe this year we are young and full of potential. I’m truly blessed to coach these kids, have a great staff, and couldn’t do it without the parents. It takes a village.”

Haynesville Lady Tors placed two on the podium on Saturday.  Natalie Moseley finished tied for third in the 114.5 division with a 145 lbs. squat, 90 lbs. bench, and 190 lbs. dead for 425 lbs.  Alexa Oglee’s 255 lbs. deadlift pushed her into a tie for third with Bryleigh Forney in the 198.3 division. 

Ringgold Redskins took more divisions in the light platform than any other school in the male division with two titles.   Tyrin Cunningham had the highest bench in the light platform division with 450 lbs.  Cunningham tied with West Monroe’s Zach Zuber and Omar Moctezuma for the highest bench at 235 lbs. in the light platform division.  Cunningham also lifted the highest total weight in the lighter platform with 1100 lbs.   He won the 165.3 division by 170 lbs.  Cunningham finished fourth in the Outstanding Male Lifter in Light platform.  The Redskin gave the 1-2 punch in the 132.3 division behind Devin Rushing’s first-place finish and Joshua Grigg’s second-place finish.  

Coach Shon Trent said “I told the guys to trust in the process and believe in themselves because all things are possible. We prayed with them before every lift asking the Lord for strength.#justbelieve #goldstandard”

Hopefully, the start of the lifting season for these teams will finish better than last where their season was canceled.  Hopefully, some champions will be crowned at the state championships in Monroe. 

Female Winners

Male Winners

Outstanding Female Light Platform

Outstanding Female Heavier Platform

Outstanding Male Lighter Platform

Outstanding Male Heavier Platform