Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
The Clay High School powerlifting club team competed at the state meet in Kenton on March 14, and the pair of Lillian Cordell and Aubrey Swartz both earned state championships.
Cordell lifted 705 pounds total in the 135-pound class, while Swartz had 555 pounds total in the 125-pound class. The girls team finished second overall with 5,380 pounds. The boys team, although they didn’t place, moved 10,485 pounds.
Other highlights included Jenna Swartz tying for the top total and finishing runner-up via a lost tiebreaker. Ramiro Ornelas (165) and Cecilia Downing (135) were also runners-up. Canyon Smith (135), Taylor Baemer (115), and Cieara Vartorella (225) each finished third. Nicholas Nonekowski (165), Brady Yarger (155), Madison Franke (145), and Lilliana Cosgrove (195) finished fourth. Emily Cordell (145) finished fifth.
Nonekowski, Baemer, Downing, Swartz, and Deyonno Kline also earned TOP Bench Awards for the best single lift in their respective weight classes. Swartz and Lillian Cordell earned TOP Squat Awards, while Smith, Baemer, and Lillian Cordell achieved TOP Deadlift Awards.
Beamer also tied the state meet record with a 130-pound bench press. Overall, 24 members of the Clay team combined to break 12 club records.
The Clay powerlifting program is coached by Nathan Quigg, who is assisted by Emily Downing. The team lifts three nights per week from November through March and attends 4-5 meets each winter. The club was reformed in its current state in 2016.
Club members compete in bench press, squat, and deadlift with proper technique emphasized for all three. Participants are also challenged with several supplementary and core exercises.
