SUBMITTED ARTICLE

Eight Summerland powerlifters traveled to Verdigre this past Saturday, Feb. 25, to participate in the second annual Verdigre powerlifting Meet. A total of 147 powerlifters representing 14 different schools from around the state were in attendance.

"It was an outstanding day of lifting for the Bobcat competitors," said Jeff Shabram.

Raina Krebs reset or tied every one of her previously-held school records. Krebs now squats 245 pounds, bench presses 120 pounds and deadlifts 340 pounds for a total of 705 pounds.

"By the end of the day, all Bobcat lifters had set personal best lifting totals," Shabram said.

Summerland had two gold medalists. Krebs won the 198+-pound class and Michael Sonnenfelt claimed gold in the 77-pound class, elementary.

A trio of Summerland lifters earned silver medals, including Matt Umphress, 165-pound class; Gavin Whiting, 242-pound class; and Aiyana Krebs, 148-pound class, junior high.

Connor Thomson, 132-pound class, and Jorden Cox, 148-pound class, junior high, each earned bronze medals.

Shabram said Colby Hupp also competed and was in the "extremely deep and difficult 198-pound weight class."

After a busy day of lifting, the Summerland co-ed team earned the fourth-place trophy and the Summerland junior high/elementary team earned the third-place trophy.

Niobrara/Verdigre earned first place in the boys' division. The team scored 52 points and outdistanced runner-up, Grand Island's 32.

Lutheran High Northeast finished third, with 29 points; North Platte, fourth, 27 points and Seward, fifth, 26 points.

N/V topped the field in the girls' division, scoring 79 points. Silver Lake scored 32 and finished second, followed by Boyd County, third, 20 points; North Platte, fourth, 19 points and Stanton fifth, 14 points.

In the co-ed division, N/V scored 94 points to take first place. North Platte finished second with 48 points; Boyd County, third, 31 points; Summerland, fourth, 29 points and Silver Lake, fifth, 28 points.

The Cougars also claimed the junior high/elementary division, totalling 94 points. Boyd County finished second, with 56 points; Summerland, third, 20 points, Centura, fourth, 19 points and Sandy Creek, fifth, 15 points.

The next powerlifting meet is the Class D State Meet, March 25, at Harvard High School.

The Orchard AAU powerlifting Meet is Saturday, April 1, at the Orchard Community Center gym.

"This is a sanctioned meet with lifters eligible to set AAU, state and American records. That meet will be another large meet and fun day of lifting," Shabram said.