Tegan Pahl wins national powerlifting title; Mounder girls finish third, boys take fifth
TWO-TIME National Champion Tegan Pahl stands atop the awards podium after winning Women’s Raw V 100 KG weight class with a total of 395 KG at the 2022 USA Powerlifting High School Nationals held in Lombard, IL March 23-26. The Elk Mound junior set three American records in the squat, deadlift and total on her way to a second straight national crown. —photo submitted
LOMBARD, IL — The Elk Mound girl’s and boy’s powerlifiting teams continued to shine on the national stage.
Elk Mound took 24 lifters, although two were not able to lift due to injury, to the USA Powerlifting High School Nationals were held March 23-26 in Lombard, Illinois and returned with more team hardware and several individual place winners.
Topping the Mounders’ list of accomplishments was junior Tegan Pahl who earned her second straight individual national championship setting three American records in the process.
With four varsity male competitors, nine varsity female competitors, nine junior varsity male competitors, the Elk Mound girls finished third in the varsity standings with four top ten finishers including Pahl while the boy’s varsity squad placed fifth overall with three top ten finishes. The Mounder boys’ junior varsity team won the national with all nine competitors scoring points for the team and Dushaun LeGrand and Dayne Laney each earning JV national crowns in their respective weight classes.
A year ago, Elk Mound won the combined team national championship as the girls fibnished in first place as a team and the boys placed second.
The teams are coached by Aaron Maves, April Maves, Michelle Lee, and Taylor Deling.
Girls
Teagan Paul gave a dominate performance in capturing her second consecutive national championship in the Women’s Raw V 100 KG weight class with a total of 395 KG, setting three American records in the squat, deadlift and total to help the team to its third-place showing.
Ari Pinder, who also won a national title a year ago, took seventh place in the Women’s Raw 48 KG weight class with a 197.5 KG total.
Mercedes Hay placed ninth in the women’s 56 KG weight class with a 250 KG total.
Lee Da Yang had a massive showing at her first nationals in the Women’s Raw V 67.5 KG weight class with a total of 270 KG.
Kyah Fischer took 11th place in the Women’s Raw V 67.5 KG weight class with a 295 KG total.
Isabella Harmer rounded out her senior year by competing in one of the most competitive and largest female weight classes, 67.5 KG, with a total of 282.5 KG.
Kara Edington finished 12th in the Women’s Raw 75 KG weight class with a total of 302.5 KG.
Chelsey Yang took 6th place in the Women’s Raw V 100 KG weight class with a total of 310 KG.
Abi Murphy placed 11th in the Women’s Raw V 100+ KG weight class with a total of 350 KG.
ANOTHER BANNER YEAR — The Elk Mound girls’ and boys’ varsity and junior varsity powerlifting teams recently placed in the national competition. The Mounder men’s junior varisty wonthe national championship, the girls’ varsity placed third and the boys’ varsity team finished fifth in the USA Powerlifting High School Nationals held in Lombard, IL March 23-26. Front row (L to R): Isabella Harmer, Teagan Pahl, Ari Pinder, Michelle Lee, Taylor Deling, Aaron Maves, April Maves, Abi Murphy and Chelsey Yang. Back row (L to R): Kyah Fischer, Kara Edington, Mercedes Hay and Devin Balts. Missing are Cason Pederson, Braedon Pederson, Lee Da Yang and Alex Woodford. —photo submitted
Boys
The Elk Mound boys’ varsity team took ffith in the Nation with three of the competitors scoring points for the team.
Devin Balts took fifth place in the Men’s Raw V 56 KG weight class with a 335 KG total.
Cason Pederson took sixth place in the Men’s Raw V 60 KG weight class with a 347.5 total.
Alex Woodford finished tenth in the Men’s Raw V 60 Kg weight class with a 310 total.
Braedon Pederson wrapped up his senior year by competing in one of the most competitive and largest male weight classes, 67.5 KG, with a total of 362.5 KG.
Junior Varsity
Dushaun LeGrand won a national title in the Men’s Raw JV 52 KG weight class with a 257.5 KG total.
Not to be outdone, Dayne Laney also captured a national championship in the Men’s Raw JV 67.5 KG weight class with a 402.5 KG total.
Gabe Fenton was the national runner-up (2nd) in the Men’s Raw JV 56 KG weight class with a 282.5 KG total.
Andres Carrillo placed fourth in the Men’s Raw JV 100 KG weight class with a 412.5 KG total.
Three other JV competitors took fifth.
Josh Braker finished fifth in the Men’s Raw JV 60 KG weight class with a 317.5 KG total.
Stevie Severson placed fifth in the Men’s Raw JV 67.5 KG weight class with a 362.5 KG total.
Landon Cassellius took 5th place in the Men’s Raw JV 100 KG weight class with a 385 KG total.
Elijah Sorenson was tenth place in the Men’s Raw JV 75 KG weight class with a 355 KG total as was Preston Smith in the Men’s Raw JV 82.5 KG weight class with a 345 KG total.