Area Boys Compete in Rusk Invitational Powerlifting Meet

Elkhart Elks Bring Home Team Title

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

ELKHART – The Rusk Invitational Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA) Meet was held in Rusk on Saturday, Feb. 3 and several of the area lifters fared very well in the second meet of the season.

There were 136 lifters from 16 area schools at the event. The schools represented were: Beckville; Bullard; Cayuga; Center; Elkhart; Grapeland; Hemphill; Jacksonville; Joaquin; New London West Rusk; Palestine; Rusk; Shelbyville; Troup; Westwood and Whitehouse.

The team from Elkhart powered their way to first place with a total of 25 points with two first place lifters, one second place, one third, one fourth and a fifth place lifter. The meet was scored based on a combination of bench press, dead lift and squat. Seven points were awarded for first place, five points for second three points for third, two points for fourth and one point for fifth.

Right behind the Elks were the Troup Tigers with 24 points. Palestine finished third with 21 points, Center finished fourth with 17 while Bullard finished fifth with 17, based on THSPA formulas. Westwood finished in sixth place with 14 points and Grapeland finished seventh with 11 points. West Rusk, Jacksonville and Shelbyville all tallied 10 points and finished eighth, ninth and tenth based on THSPA formulas. Whitehouse was 11th with eight points, Joaquin was 12th with seven, Hemphill was 13th with seven, Hemphill was 14th with six, Beckville finished 15th with four points and Westwood was 16th with three points.

Whitehouse’s Richard Rodriguez finished first in the 114 pound class with a total of 640 pounds lifted. He recorded lifts of 245 pounds in the squat, 135 on the bench and 206 in the dead lift. Hemphill’s Gabe Hawver finished second with a total of 555 pounds lifted and Cayuga’s Caden Mullican was third with a total of 495 pounds.

In the 123 pound class, Bullard Panther Landon Warren finished first with a total of 860 pounds lifted. He recorded lifts of 315 pounds in the squat, 190 on the bench and 355 in the dead lift. Palestine’s Osvaldo Palacios finished second with a total of 675 pounds lifted, Elkhart’s Ryan Hammock was third with 615 pounds lifted and Palestine’s Kemon Ross was fourth with a total of 615 pounds.

In the 132 pound class, West Rusk’s Kevin Chavez finished first with a total of 890 pounds lifted. He recorded lifts of 325 pounds in the squat, 175 on the bench and 310 in the dead lift. Westwood Panther Cannon Churchman finished second with a total of 860 pounds lifted and Palestine’s Justin Villatoro was third with a total of 770. Javi Zamora from Palestine was sixth with a total lift of 725 while Palestine’s Cagen Clark was eighth with a total of 485.

In the 148 pound class, Cayuga Wildcat Kyle Kennerick finished sixth with a total of 865 pounds lifted. He recorded lifts of 335 pounds in the squat, 175 on the bench and 355 in the dead lift. Cayuga’s Carter Grasch was 15th with a total lift of 430.

In the 165 pound class, Westwood’s Zach Morrow finished fourth with a total of 1085 pounds lifted. He recorded lifts of 425 pounds in the squat, 250 on the bench and 410 in the dead lift. Westwood’s JP Hucklebridge finished ninth with a total of 915 pounds lifted, Cayuga’s Robert Buckley was 10th with a total of 900, Palestine’s Dekedryn Butler was 11th with a total of 875, Grapeland’s Jay Shepherd was 14th with a total of 780 while teammate Bryan Perez was 15th with a total of 780. Rounding out the 165 pound class, Cayuga’s Jai Mickens was 18th with a total lift of 670, Elkhart’s Rodger Gonzalez was 20th with lifts totaling 620 and Palestine’s Draven Deleon was 22nd with a total lift of 460.

In the 181 pound class, Elkhart Elk Ryan Lindsay finished first with a total of 1390 pounds lifted. He recorded lifts of 565 pounds in the squat, 300 on the bench and 525 in the dead lift. Cayuga’s Kevin Kennerk finished eighth with a total of 1020 pounds lifted while teammate Casen Grasch was 11th with a total lift of 960. Palestine’s Keshaun Nonette was 12th with lifts totaling 935 and teammate Roderick Deyon was 14th with a total lift of 700. Westwood’s Brenden Gabler was 15th with 655 pounds.

In the 198 pound class, Center Rough Rider Witt Dockens finished first with a total of 1480 pounds lifted. He recorded lifts of 625 pounds in the squat, 335 on the bench and 520 in the dead lift. Elkhart’s Michael Jones was second with a total of 1400 and Westwood’s Lajuan Davis McClain was fourth with 1005 pounds. Palestine’s Camron Spurlock was 10th with a total lift of 580.

In the 220 pound class, Center’s Latavius Evans was first with a total of 1310 pounds lifted. He recorded lifts of 555 pounds in the squat, 265 on the bench and 490 in the dead lift. Grapeland’s Cerdarian Davis was second with a total of 1165. Grapeland’s Aaron Davis was third with a total of 1155 while teammate Ashton Henry was fourth with a total lift of 1135 pounds.  Cayuga’s Matthew Barber was 10th with lifts totaling 860 pounds while teammate Dalton Fitzpatrick finished 12th with a total lift of 815 pounds. Elkhart’s Raul Cazares was 15th with 775 pounds.

In the 242 pound class, Elkhart Elk TJ Jones finished first with a total of 1485 pounds lifted. He recorded lifts of 600 pounds in the squat, 345 on the bench and 540 in the dead lift. Palestine’s Deonundre Hatton finished second with a total of 1435 pounds lifted. Elkhart’s Seth Hoffman was fifth with a total of 1180. Palestine’s Cedric Hicks was seventh with 1135 and Elkhart’s Weldon Brooks was eighth with a total of 1100. Cayuga’s Tristan Legard was 10th with a total lift of 1005 pounds.

In the 275 pound class, Westwood’s Keevon Jackson finished third with a total lift of 1205. Teammate Dontavious Robinson was fourth with a total of 1090 pounds and Grapeland’s Franco Rea was fifth with a lift of 1065.

In the super heavyweight class, Palestine’s Jesus Garcia-Castillo finished second with a total of 1550. Elkhart’s Cade Jones was fourth with a total of 1415. Palestine’s Dejuan Early finished fifth with a total of 1410 pounds lifted while teammates Tradarion Sadler (1160) and Josh Leach (965) finished seventh and ninth, respectively.

Will Johnson may be reached via email at [email protected].

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