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The 2024 Orchard AAU powerlifting Meet was held last Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6. Organizer Jeff Shabram said "an awesome lineup of 170-plus registered lifters from across the Midwest competed."

"This year's meet was a national meet, so two days of competition were required to accommodate the crowd of lifters striving for state, American and even world records," Shabram said. "It was the 17th year for the Orchard meet and the largest one ever."

Eleven Summerland powerlifters competed Saturday.

"These 11 lifters had an outstanding day of lifting in front of the home crowd, breaking one state record and one Summerland school record, not to mention many lifters setting numerous personal bests," Shabram said.

The entire field of competition saw 18 different lifters set a total of 36 state records, eight American records and even four world records by age/weight class.

Raina Krebs broke her own school record with a lift of 281 pounds. Auryana Hernandez also set a new school record in the bench press with 132 pounds.

After the busy day of lifting was finished, the Summerland team earned the 2024 Nebraska AAU third-place trophies in the junior/senior high co-ed and junior/senior high school boys' team divisions

The Elsie Magwire memorial female outstanding lifter of the meet award, based on strength index, went to Holly Pavlik of Verdigre, with an index of 4.24.

Mathew Umphress was runner-up for outstanding male lifter of the meet. Colton Hauschild of Lincoln won the title.

In the co-ed division, Niobrara/Verdigre scored 91 points to take the team title. They were followed by North Platte, 78; Summerland, 77; Boyd County, 76; Columbus, 43; and Centura, 37.

N/V won the combined junior high/high school boys' division. They tallied 80 points. Boyd County came in second with 68; Summerland 40; Centura, 27; Ainsworth, 13; and Johnson-Brock, 12.

In the combined student and adult teams, first place went to team Schellen, with 97 points. North Platte finished second with 78 and Tri-County, third, with 61.

"Summerland had an amazing eight individual AAU champions," Shabram said.

Winners included Michael Sonnenfelt, 98-pound class; Connor Thomson, 148-pound class; Jorden Cox, 165-pound youth class; Matt Umphress, 165-pound class; Jacob Behnk, 220-pound open class; Landon McAllister, 275-pound push-pull class; Amor Zermeno, 105-pound class; and Auryana Hernandez, 198-pound class.

Other Bobcat medalists were Jaden Robinett, second, 132-pound youth class; Clair Krysl, second, 148-pound class; and Krebs, second, 220-pound class.

LuAnn Schindler | SAM

Small and mighty • Michael Sonnenfelt, of Orchard, strains to lift the bar during deadlift competition at Saturday's AAU Powerlifting Meet in Orchard. Sonnenfelt was one of eight Bobcat powerlifters who earned a first-place medal. He competed in the 98-pound class.

"It was an impressive display of power Saturday as many of the Bobcat lifters increased totals and bumped up to stronger lifting clubs," Shabram said.

Saturday's meet was the last of the 2023-24 school year. Next season kicks off with the Lexington powerlifting Meet in December.

"Nice job and keep up the good work kids. It is fun to watch you grow in both mind and body. Keep lifting!"

A complete list of results, along with records, should be posted soon on the http://www.aau-ne.com website and the http://www.aaunebraskapowerlifting.com website under the 2024 Orchard Meet link.

Shabram said Saturday was "an overall amazing display of power" for many of the competitors.

The heaviest total this year was lifted by Brian Benshoof of Bellevue, with 1,614 pounds. Other highlights included American and state records set in the bench press by two girls from Boyd County, Amelia Hakl and Kaylee Bennett.