Hodag powerlifters score runner-up finishes at state

With 24 total athletes participating, the Rhinelander High School club powerlifting team finished second in boys’ division 2 and second in the combined co-ed standings at the Wisconsin High School Powerlifting Association state championships held March 6-8 in Appleton.

The Hodag boys had four podium finishers and finished only five points behind the state champions. The Hodag girls had one podium finish and took 11th in the D2 standings. 

“It truly has been amazing to watch this team grow, in four short years we have risen to the expectation that we can compete at the state level and are seeing the results,” coach Drake Biolo said. “To go from a total team size of 22 kids year one to a state team size of 24 this year shows the dedication, commitment, and drive our students have for this sport.”

Sophomore Canyon Sizemore was the runner-up in the 114-pound weight class, tying Marinette’s Mason Hass with a combined weight lifted of 345 pound, however Hass won the tiebreaker for the state title. 

Biolo noted that junior Trenton Smits tied a state record in the squat (152.5 pounds) as he lifted 372.5 total to finish third at 123 pounds. Sophomore team Trevor Denton also made the podium at 123, taking fifth with a total of 355. Senior Landon Webster was the last Hodag boy to make the podium, successfully completing all nine of his lifts in the 275-pound weight class. His total of 597.5 pounds was good enough for fifth in the weight class. 

Rhinelander’s lone podium finishes on the girls’ side was senior Libbey Buchmann. She took fifth in the 242+ weight class with a total score of 325. 

Others who competed for the Hodag boys included: Michael Brunette (18th, 114 class), Jacob Guinther (sixth, 123), Grady DeBay (20th, 132), Myles Eagleson (16th, 181) Jackson Waydick (28th, 181), Isaac Rossing (29th, 181) and Dom Hakala (19th, 275+).

Lifters on the girls’ side included Carlie Pudlowski (DNP, 105), Payten Denton (10th, 114), Madalyn Soulier (40th, 132), Shyanne Hueckstaedt (11th, 132), Kali Skubal (21st, 148), Taylor Dahlquist (20th, 148), Gretchen Fiebke (25th, 148), Taylor McKinney (22nd, 181), Brooklynn Marten (25th, 181), Claire Ourada (26th, 181), Saige Mutter (ninth, 198) and Sadie Edyvean (ninth, 242). 

Biolo noted, with 18 of the 24 state qualifiers slated to return, the future of the program looks bright. 

“Our growth couldn’t have been possible without the support from the community and families. We are looking forward to an even bigger and better season next year,” he said.