Nevada High student-athletes fare well at state powerlifting meet

Nevada High senior Zach Gardner, squats a new state record, 540 pounds. Gardner, a standout running back and linebacker, has committed to play football at Benedictine College in Athchison, Kansas.

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Wes Beachler’s Nevada High School powerlifting squad had an excellent showing at Saturday’s state meet held at Glendale H.S. in Springfield.

“Overall, we competed really well,” Beachler told the Daily Mail. “I was really pleased with the number of athletes who placed, and I’m proud of the athletes who came up short as far as placing. They competed hard, and to the best of their abilities.”

It was a record-setting day for a pair of Nevada seniors. In the 210 pound class, Gardner squatted 540 pounds, en route to a new state record, while also claiming the overall crown for his class. Meanwhile, NHS senior Haiden Richmond, in the 145 pound girls division, placed first in the bench press, after benching a state-tying 150 pounds.

Nevada H.S. senior Haiden Richmond, shows off her bench press skills, during Saturday’s state meet at Glendale High School.

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Nevada High student-athletes collected a number of other top finishes, including Richmond’s state runner-up finish. Richmond’s day not only included the state-tying bench press, but also a first-place squat.

Sammy Gundy claimed an overall runner-up finish in the girls 135 pound division, with the NHS senior placing first in squat and bench press. Also for Nevada in the girls 135 pound division, Maleigha McDowell placed fifth overall, and Halley Otter, ninth.

Nevada’s CayLee lifting skills are on fully display, Saturday at the Missouri state powerlifting meet in Springfield.

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Meanwhile, in the 125 pound girls division, Nevada’s Drew Weeks notched the top bench press, while placing fourth overall. Beachler’s squad dominated the 125 pound division, with CayLee Crews recording the top deadlift, on her way to an overall runner-up finish.

In addition to Gardner’s state championship finish, Nevada boys results also included: Colin Witte, fourth-place overall, 125 pound division; Shawn Thornburg, seventh-place overall, 210 pound division; Dylan Beachler, eighth-place overall, 125 pound class; Brock Marquardt, ninth-place overall, 145 pound division; Lukas Kaemmerling, 10th-place overall, 195 pound division; Keaton Brockmeyer, 11th-place overall, 250 pound division; and Corbin Eastwood, 12th-place overall, 185 pound division.