Mohawks finish second at state

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The Northwest Mohawks Powerlifting team had a great showing at the 2016 State Powerlifting Competition. The competition, held at Kenton High School in Kenton, Ohio, saw the Northwest Boys and Girls Powerlifting teams each finished in second place. The boys also brought home several individual awards, while setting new records.

Coach Mark Smith took a combined 25 kids to the state competition this year, which was held last Saturday, March 19th.

“This year, going in, I had a real young group of kids,” Smith said. “I didn’t have many upperclassmen.”

The Mohawks were represented by 11 junior high students, and 14 high school students.

Over the last four years, Smith and his kids have had success as a team. This year, Smith was unsure how well the team would do, but was expecting positive results in individual performances.

“We actually went in and had a good showing,” Smith said. “We placed second overall as a boys team.”

The surprising second place finish wouldn’t be the only joy to come from the competition, as the Mohawks had two participants set records during the state competition.

Trevan Bazler set a new state record in squat, lifting an impressive 615 pounds.

“Trevan has worked hard for me for the last four years,” Smith said. “His totals were 1,415 pounds at state, for bench, squat and dead-lift, at 177 pounds.”

Bazler is a senior at Northwest, and was also a member of the Northwest football team.

“He (Bazler) is a three-year state winner,” Smith said.

“I worked hard all year to break the record,” Bazler said.

This was Bazler’s first attempt to set the record. When asked why he chose to try 615 pounds, his response was simply, “it was more than the record.”

During his freshman year, Bazler’s total weight in bench, squat, and dead-lift, at the state competition was 814 pounds. From his freshman year to his senior year, Bazler improved his total weight by 601 pounds.

Noah Mills, one of the seventh graders on the Northwest Powerlifting team, had a great showing at the state competition, hitting 660 pounds in bench, squat, and dead-lift, while competing at a weight of 121 pounds.

“That is really good for a seventh grader,” Smith said. “He is the first ever seventh grader to win state, which is a seventh through twelfth grade competition.”

Mills will be returning next year, and hopes to continue his success from this year.

The girls powerlifting team also finished in second place at the state competition in Kenton, Ohio. The team, which started with only two girls four years ago, has expanded to include 10 girls.

“We went from never placing at state, to placing second overall,” Smith said.

Overall, Smith said the results showed all the hard work and determination of all the members of the powerlifting team at Northwest.

Four members of the team will graduate this year, John Whitt, Hunter Arnett, Hunter Duncan, and Bazler.

“These kids stepped up and helped the younger kids throughout the year and set an example for how they should respond as far as adversity, and the hard work it takes throughout the year to get to this point,” Smith said. “Overall, I’m just real proud of our kids as a whole.”

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Submitted photo
The 2016 Northwest Mohawks Powerlifting team poses for a picture with their awards.
http://portsmouth-dailytimes.aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2016/03/web1_NW-Powerlifting-2016.jpegSubmitted photo
The 2016 Northwest Mohawks Powerlifting team poses for a picture with their awards.

Submitted photo
Trevan Bazler attempts to squat 615 pounds during the state competition at Kenton High School in Kenton, Ohio.
http://portsmouth-dailytimes.aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/28/2016/03/web1_Trevan-Bazler-NW-Powerlifting.jpegSubmitted photo
Trevan Bazler attempts to squat 615 pounds during the state competition at Kenton High School in Kenton, Ohio.

By Michael Hamilton [email protected]

Reach Michael Hamilton at 740-353-3101, ext 1931, or on Twitter @MikeHamilton82.

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