Monahans Out-Powers Competitors in Pecos Meet on Saturday
    By Jennifer Ray, Staff Writer -- The Monahans News, January 14, 2008

The Monahans power lifting teams were in Pecos this weekend for the year's first meet. The boys' team took first place for the third consecutive year. The girls, with the addition of several new lifters, made history by winning Monahans High's first ever girls' team championship.

The Monahans boys competed against 10 other teams at the meet.

A total of 38 Monahans points were scored, giving the Loboes the team title.

Dallas Bowden lifted a total of 410 lbs to finish fourth in the 114.5 class.

Bobby Fabian set personal bests in all three lifts to finish second in the 123.5 weight class. His new personal records include a 300-pound squat, a 180-pound bench press and a 285-pound dead lift for a total of 765 pounds.

In the 165.5 pounds class, Brandon Baggett set a personal best, finishing third with a total of 775 pounds.

Hector Venegas set three personal bests and finished second in the 181.5 class. Venegas squatted 450 pounds, bench pressed 265 and lifted 400 pounds in the dead lift.

Garrett King lifted 870 pounds to finish fifth in the 198.5 class and set a personal best.

Evan Hemingway also set a personal best and finished fifth in the 220-pound weight class with a total lift of 1,080 pounds.

Anthony Santiago, who qualified for the state meet in 2007, set a new personal best winning the 242.5 class. He lifted 540 pounds in the squat, 320 in the bench press and 475 pounds in the dead lift.

Blake McDaniel set two personal bests and finished second in the 275.5-pound class and set three personal bests.

Shaq Smith won the super heavyweight division with a total of 1,200 pounds lifted. He had the best lift in the squat, bench press and dead lift with 370, 300 and 430 pounds, respectively.

Stetson Standish set two personal bests and placed fourth in the SHW division.

Also competing well for the Monahans boys team were Bubba Boyett, Colby Nelson, Austin Grigry, Anthony Ford, Cameron Boyd, Matt Ornelas and Isaac Hernandez.

The teams earned seven point for each first place finish, five points for second, three points for third, two for fourth and one point for fifth. The Lobo boys placed first with 38 points, a full 10 points ahead of second-place Kermit.

Team standings, (boys): 1. Monahans, 38; 2. Kermit, 28; 3. Pecos, 27; 4. Fort Stockton, 20; 5. Seagraves, 18; 6. McCamey 15; 7. Reagan County, 14; 8. Iraan, 12; 9. Crane, 10; 10. Alpine, 3and 11. Marfa, 1.

Kimberly Medcalf placed seventh in the 123-pound weight class. Medcalf squatted 110, bench pressed 60 and dead lifted 135 pounds for a total lift of 305 pounds.

Quen Carter placed sixth in the 132-pound weight class. She lifted a total of 465 pounds. Teammate Adriana Rendon placed seventh in the same class with a total of 450 pounds lifted.

Ambre Vanderburg squatted 235, benched 120 and dead lifted 220 for a total lift of 575 pounds, and the second place finish in the 148-class.

Allycyn Ramos placed second in her 165-weight class with a total lift of 550. Katelan Johnson placed fourth in the same class with a total 460-pound lift.

Kembra Mitchell, Driana Sida and Crissy Wallace swept the top three spots in the 181-weight class. In the squat, bench press and dead lift, Mitchell lifted 265, 100 and 245; Sida lifted 185, 95 and 90 pounds.

In the super Heavyweight class, Morgan Haynes placed second with a total lift of 610 pounds. Although Haynes placed second overall, she did lift more than first-place Deandrea Bailey lifted 120.

Team Standings (girls): 1. Monahans, 32; 2. Fort Stockton, 29; 3. Kermit, 29; 4. Pecos, 22; 5. Reagan County, 15; 6. McCamey, 11; 7. Crane, 9; 8. Seagraves, 7; 9, Alpine, 2 and 10. Iraan,0.

On Saturday, January 26, Monahans will host their meet for area power lifters. The teams are coached by Mickey Mitchell, Chris McWilliams, and Fred Howard.

Keyed by Eliza Vidana