The 2002 High School Nationals Meet report (page 2)

By Rick Fowler, Platform Manager for Platform 2

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Girls JV    There was a tough battle in the Girls JV class at 148 lbs. between Rachael Moore & Devan Doan. Devan, the daughter of super bencher Dave Doan, wowed the crowd that there is actually a Doan that can squat and deadlift (Dave's words, not mine). Things went right down to the wire with these two when Rachael pulled 264 lbs. on her third deadlift to win the title on a bodyweight tie. But there bodyweights were easily mistaken, with Doan weighing 66.5 kg's and Moore weighing 65.6 kgs. It was announced that Doan was the winner and after a brief discussion with Mike Poirier, his Plainwell lifter Rachael Moore had won after all. After sincerely apologizing and correcting my error, Devan Doan was very graceful in the way she handled my mistake. In my eyes both these girls are champions. In just her second USAPL meet, Natalie Pfoff of Colfax, IL placed second in the 165's. Not bad for being new to some very tough judging. She is a product of nice guy Randy Biggiam's team from Colfax, IL, who are just getting their feet wet. Natalie missed only two lifts, and was runner up to Amy Hocutt of Racine, WI. Amy, who missed only one lift the entire day, totaled a whopping 755 lbs. thanks to lifts of 242 160 264, and earned best JV lifter for the heavy half of the girls class. Congratulations to Lindsay Pledger of Cape Girardeau, MO, who was the only JV girl to go 9 for 9! Best lifter in the JV girls class for the light half of the group, was 105 lb. Jennifer Ray of Granite City, IL. As a training partner of this girl with such a thin frame, I sometimes wonder where her power comes from. But she has it and then some. After finally getting a squat of 198 lbs, she benched 110 lbs. and pulled 253 lbs. for a total of 562 lbs. I have to say Jennifer was quite surprised when I pulled her out of the hot tub for her best lifter award late Friday night. I still owe her and her twin sister Jessica who bombed, some post meet ice cream. Girls Varsity    In the Varsity girls class, the 97 lb. title was a no brainer. Womens Open division National Champion, Erin Dickey was fresh off her victory at the Womens Nationals in Chicago last month. The Plainwell, MI team member came to solidify her claim as the USAPL's top 97 lb. girl regardless of her age and did she ever do that. She not only won hands down, but chose to attempt a Sub Jr. (18 & under) World Record deadlift of 292 lbs. but the record will have to wait until next time around. This was the only attempt missed in a fine display of powerlifting excellence.    The 105 Varsity class was a tight one that went right down to the final deadlifts to determine winners. It was the battle of Louisiana, when Brandy Waguespack of Prairieville, LA just missed topping Lisa Luc of Slidell, LA by a margin of 2.5 kg's. Both squatted the same amount of 231 lbs. but the deciding factor here was the big bench of eventually champion, Lisa, who benched 137 lbs. I'm sure these two girls know each other very well and will continue to duke it out at future meets down south.    The champion of the 114's was Carly Nogle of Plainwell, MI, who incidentally was also the best lifter of the Varsity class. Nogle's lifts were enough to push her past team member Erin Dickey for best lifter honors. She did it with lifts of a 292 lb. squat, a benchpress of 137 lbs, and a huge deadlift of 314 lbs., totaling an awesome 744 lbs. I'll say it right here.watch this girl, because the future looks very bright for her!    In the 123's , Alyssa Hitchcock of Neenah, WI, made 2 out of 3 in each event to walk away with her title by a margin of over 40 lbs. Her total of 755 lbs. also appears to put her in the drivers seat for a spot on the 18 & Under World team!    Amber Mesik, another lifter from Plainwell, MI, held onto the World Team spot she claimed last month at the Womens Nationals by winning her class with an off 4 for 9 day. Her total back in Feb. was actually a little higher but she is still going to the Worlds!    In the 148's Molly Dennany of Team Plainwell via Kalamazoo, MI, was victorious over Amy Hasner with an excellent 8 for 9 day. This girl believe it or not, is only a freshman in high school and is just built to absolutely kick the proverbial three letter word. After her first workout, coaches Tod Miller and Mike Poirier were amazed at her immaculate form and how easy she was to coach. This is another one that will be around for a while gang!    The 165ers was another very competitive class that went down to the very end of the fuze. Traci Till of Alexandria, LA, who was all over the roster prior to the meet having been listed in both the 181 divisions, actually made weight in the 165's and won the class. It was her final deadlift of 402 lbs. that gave her the victory over Ashley Sanders of Slidell, LA by a margin of just 2.5 kilograms. Traci's total of 887 lbs. will also send her to the Worlds!

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