Chiefs powerlifters
play stingy hosts
Jimmy Steinhorst goes through a ritual before his deadlift. Steinhorst was one of four division winners from WDHS and also surpassed the qualifying standard for Nationals.
By Jim den Hollander
For the first time, Wisconsin Dells High School powerlifters didn't have to travel to a tournament. The local team along with Necedah High School shared the role of hosts at an event at Antiqua Bay recently. The lifters enjoyed a chance to put on a show for friends and family. The Chiefs picked up four division wins on the day and no less than a half dozen team members surpassed the needed totals to qualify for 2008-09 Nationals. Four lifters: Kyle Holzem, Alex Kahler, Michael Hess and Kit Conrad can pick between two divisions they qualified in. Conrad, an incoming junior at WDHS won the 275 lbs. division with his 1,205 lbs. (460 lbs squat, 225 lbs. bench, 275 lbs. deadlift) total and that also would qualify him in the 275 lbs. plus group as well. Incoming sophomore, Michael Hess earned his second straight National qualification as well, winning the 123 lbs. division with a total of 805 lbs., with a 275 lbs. squat, 150 lbs. bench press and 380 lbs. deadlift. Last season Hess competed in the 114 lbs. division and those numbers would also qualify him in that group as well. Junior Jimmy Steinhorst won and earned the national standard in the 148 lbs. division, lifting a total of 960 lbs. (340 lbs. Squat, 215 lbs. bench, 405 lbs. deadlift). The other division winner was senior Lucas Triggs in the 181 lbs. division. He also qualified for Nationals with an 1,150 lbs. total from 250 lbs. squat, 225 lbs. bench and 475 lbs. deadlift. Sophomore Kyle Holzem qualified for Nationals in both 198 lbs. and 220 lbs. with a 1,260 lbs. total coming from a 485 lbs. squat, 275 lbs. bench and 500 lbs. deadlift. Junior Alex Kahler also qualified for Nationals at 198-220 lbs with an 1,140 lbs. (45 lbs. squat, 265 lbs. bench and 425 lbs. deadlift) total. Freshman Tyler Hovlund was at his second event of the summer and improved on previous bests in the 123 lbs. division with a 525 lbs. (195 lbs. squat, 95 lbs. bench, 135 lbs. deadlift) total and another freshman, Fabian Houghton made his debute at 181 lbs. with a 625 lbs. total that included a 245 bls. squat, 115 lbs. bench and 265 lbs. deadlift.