Mounders, Vikings powerlifters compete in last-chance meet to qualify for state
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PERSONAL RECORD — Chase Aspengren of Colfax may have barely missed first place in the Saturday, February 8 at Elk Mound, but he was able to successfully complete a personal best with a 355 pounds in the squat. —photo by Amber Hayden

STATE BOUND — Austin Schindler will join two others from Colfax at next month’s state meet in Appleton, set for March 7-8, after qualifying with a 385-lb. squat. —photo by Amber Hayden

STRUGGLE — Tim Sault of the Mounders failed on his squat at 195 pounds, but he successfully lifted 175 pounds on his next attempt at a powerlifting meet at Elk Mound High School on Saturday, February 8.
—photo by Amber Hayden

CLARE Hallum went down for her first squat during the Saturday, February 8, meet in Elk Mound. Hallum cleared the 160-pound challenge. Hallum’s best squat of the day was 190-pounds
—photo by Amber Hayden
By Amber Hayden
ELK MOUND — With the last chance to qualify for a state berth to Appleton on March 7-8, the Colfax Vikings and Elk Mound Mounders competed in Elk Mound last Saturday, February 8.
The Mounders were able to qualify another 22 lifters for state, some of which had qualified earlier in the season, and Colfax gained one more qualifier from the men’s varsity team.
Elk Mound
For the Mounders, there was no surprise as Emma Gillespie and Clare Hallum grabbed first and second in the 114-lb. weight class.
“Overall we are impressed with how our team continues to grow in strength and numbers,” said coach Michelle Lee. “The time and work each lifter puts in is evident within their results.”
Gillespie had a 190-lb. squat, 85-lb. bench press, and a 275-lb. dead lift, while Hallum had a 190-lb. squat, 80-lb. bench, and a 240-lb. dead lift.
Alyse Egan took home third place in the 148-lb. weight class, with a 230-lb. squat, 115-lb. bench press, and a 290-lb. dead lift.
Moving up to the 181-lb. weight class, Orianna Horel took home first place for the Lady Mounders with a 250-lb. squat, 105-lb. bench press, and a 310-lb. dead lift.
Devin Balts scored a total of 610 points to take first place in the men’s 114-lb. weight class as he had a 220-lb. squat, 125-lb. bench, and a 265-lb. dead lift.
“This year over 20 school records have been broken within just three regional meets,” Lee explained.
Taking third and fifth place for Elk Mound in the 148-lb. weight class were Charles Morgan and Dominic Hall respectively. Morgan had a 310-lb. squat, 185-lb. bench, and 440-lb. dead lift, and Hall had a 300-lb. squat, 195-lb. bench press and a 385-lb. dead lift.
Major Gunderson-Morris scored big for Elk Mound with 1,155 points in the 198-lb. weight class with a 415-lb. squat, 215-lb. bench press, and a 525-lb. dead lift.
“Powerlifting is a unique sport in which you will witness competitors encouraging one another, coaches helping one another, and a gymnasium full of support for every athlete, not just their team,” Lee stated.
Colfax
Austin Schindler finished in first place for Colfax in the 220-lb. weight class with 1,055 points thanks to a 385-lb. squat, 220-lb. bench, and a 450-lb. dead lift.
It is unclear if Colfax’s Chase Aspengren qualified for state, but the junior was able to garner a personal record with a 355-lb. squat. Aspengren also had a 240-lb. bench and a 390-lb. dead lift.
Colfax’s Sydney Herrick also competed in Elk Mound. Herrick had qualified several weeks earlier in Osceola, but used the opportunity to gain one more match before the state competition in March. Herrick took second in the 242-lb. plus weight class with a 255-lb. squat, 115-lb. bench, and a 300-lb. dead lift.