GENTRY -- Students who were a part of Gentry High School's national championship powerlifting team this past school year received their championship rings on Friday.
The powerlifting team competed in the NASA 34th annual National High School Powerlifting Nationals in Oklahoma City, Okla., on March 24-25, and won its fourth straight national championship. The team had six first-place awards, two second-place and two third-place awards in the team divisions. Gentry won the overall meet with 110 total team points.
The team had nine lifters -- seven seniors, one junior and one sophomore. Seniors Khang Yang and Lawrence Caro have been on all four national champion teams.
Lawrence Caro lifted in the 114-pound division and finished with four first-place wins, one second-place win, and set three new national records. Khang Yang lifted in the 123-pound division and finished with three first-place, one second and one third. Gavin Taylor lifted in the 165-pound division and finished with three first-place wins and one third-place and set a new national record in the push-pull. Tanner Christie lifted in the 198-pound division and finished with one first-place, two second-place, one third-place and one fourth-place award. Konner Hodges lifted in the 198-pound division and finished with two first-place awards, one second-place, one third-place and one fourth-place, and set two new national records. Mason Clark lifted in the 220-pound division and finished with three first-place awards and two third-place awards. Tomas Gomez lifted in the 242-pound division and finished with three first-place awards and one second. J.T. Crosby lifted in the 275-pound division and finished with four first-place awards and one second, and set a new national record in the push-pull. Kerlose Ruzek lifted in the 308-pound division and finished with five first-place awards and set two new national records.
The Gentry High School powerlifting team is coached by Sean Seligman, who also has been active in the sport for many years.
"I would like to thank the following people for supporting our program this year: Keeten Jones, Martha Hawkins, Nelson Feed Store, Dr. Greg Philpott and Linda Johnson who has gone above and beyond in helping our program for the past four years," Seligman said.
"We had a great group of lifters this year who dedicated themselves to working hard to win another championship. Out of our seven seniors this year, Lawrence Caro and Khang Yang have been on all four national championship teams," Seligman said. "We have started an awesome tradition here at Gentry with our powerlifting team. I look to keep it going in the future and start training in August with the goal of winning another championship.
"We also have a goal this year of starting an Alumni Association for all past lifters. We are hoping to raise enough money to start lifting in more federations in the future and expand our team with a girls' powerlifting team," Seligman added.
Sports on 07/04/2018