Gentry powerlifters win national awards

GENTRY — This was Gentry High School’s second year to compete in the NASA High School Powerlifting Nationals. Last year Gentry had nine team members and won a national championship in two divisions. This year, there were 13 lifters who entered 15 team divisions.

The Gentry Pioneer powerlifters traveled to Oklahoma City, Okla., to compete in the annual high school powerlifting competition on April 1 and 2.

“We competed for two days against a little more than 300 lifters and several teams from all over the U.S.,” said Gentry coach Sean Seligman.

“We had 10 of our 13 lifters finish as National Champions in their divisions,” Seligman said. “Lawrence Caro set three national records in bench press, push-pull and powerpress in the 114-pound division. Khang Yang set two national records in power-press and pushpull in the 123-pound class. Mason Clark set a national record for pushpull in the 242-pound class. Chance Cooper set a national record in pushpull in the 275-pound class.

Members of the GHS powerlifting team are Tylor Lor, Peter Thao, Tyous Lor, Khang Yang, Tomas Gomez, Trey Welch, Lawrence Caro, Chance Cooper, Kong Lor, Mason Clark, Keeten Jones, Kaven Flesner and Tanner Christie.

“Powerlifting gives students who don’t play other sports an opportunity to compete. And the students who do play sports, it makes them better in their sport,” Seligman said.

“I am looking forward to next year to see if we can win another championship,” Seligman said. “Overall, this was a great year in powerlifting.”

On April 19, Kathryn Gough, U.S. Senator John Boozman’s field represen- tative, traveled to Gentry to honor the Gentry powerlifters with certificates from Boozman, saying it was a great accomplish- ment for Gentry High School and the individual powerlifters.

While powerlifting is a sanctioned sport in many surrounding states, it is new to Arkansas and only a few schools participate, making Gentry’s accomplishments on the national level all the more significant.

Stan Hobbs is also a powerlifting coach for Gentry.

Photo by Randy Moll The Gentry High School power-lifting team, pictured with some of the team’s awards this season, includes Peter Thao (front, left), Tylor Lor, Tyous Lor, Keeten Jones, Kaven Flesner, Lawrence Caro, Khang Yang, Tomas Gomez (back, left), Mason Clark,...