Bobcat lifters compete at the 2024 Verdigre Powerlifting Meet

Seven Summerland powerlifters traveled to Verdigre, Saturday, Feb. 24, to participate in the third annual Verdigre powerlifting Meet.

A total of 206 powerlifters, representing fifteen different schools from around the state, were in attendance.

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

Mathew Umphress was crowned outstanding male lifter of the meet by strength index, which is total weight lifted divided by body weight. That strength index of 6.45 broke his own school record.

"Speaking of school records, Gavin Whiting's 385-pound squat also broke a school record previously held by Jacob Behnk," Shabram said.

Connor Thomson surpassed the 800-pound total mark. Raina Krebs nearly broke her own records.

Jorden Cox, Landon McAllister and newcomer Auryana Hernandez all set personal best lifting totals.

Summerland had two gold medalists. Umphress took top honors in the 165-pound class and Hernandez claimed the top spot in the 198-pound class, junior high division.

Two Bobcats earned silver medals, including Krebs, 198-plus pound class and Cox, 165-pound class, junior high.

Whiting, competing in the 275-pound class, earned a bronze medal.

Thomson finished in seventh place in the 148-pound class and Landon McAllister was eighth in 275-pound class deadlift.

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

The top five boys' teams were Lexington, 67 points; North Platte, 55 points; Niobrara/Verdigre, 36 points; Centura, 32 points; and Grand Island Central Catholic, 19 points.

In the girls' division, North Platte finished first with 64 points, followed by N/V, 63 points; Lexington, 57 points; Boyd County, 19 points and Lutheran High Northeast, eight points.

In the co-ed class, North Platte won the team title with 84 points. NP was followed by N/V, 82 points; Lexington, 79 points; Summerland, 22 points and Boyd County, 21 points.

Boyd County won the junior high team trophy. The team scored 74 points. N/V finished second with 59 points, followed by Centura, 30 points and Summerland, 17 points.

The next powerlifting meet is the Class D State Meet, March 23, at Harvard High School. The Orchard AAU powerlifting Meet is a two-day event this year, as a national AAU meet, which will be Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6, at the Orchard gym. This is a sanctioned meet with lifters eligible to set AAU state, American, and world records.

"That meet will be another large meet and a fun two days of lifting," Shabram said.