Thunderbirds bring back awards from Nationals
By the Mon Valley Independent
Members of Monessen’s Thunderbird Gym competed in the World National Powerlifting Federation Nationals in Youngstown, Ohio, on Sunday.
As they usually do, those local competitors returned with some hardware, including new national records and outstanding lifter awards.
Monessen’s Carly Rock, a former softball standout for the Greyhounds, competed in her first powerlifting meet and was named Outstanding Female Lifter at the event.
Rock squatted 185 pounds, benched 105 pounds and deadlifted a record 255 pounds for a total of 545 pounds. All were national records.
Hanna Leach, also competing in her first meet, squatted 220 pounds, benched 125 and deadlifted 225 for a total of 570 pounds.
Jody Leach, Hanna’s father, squatted 410 pounds, benched 305 and deadlifted 475 for a total of 1,190 pounds to win his weight class.
Rock’s brother Jordan Kelemen, broke three national records at the event.
In the Ironman devision, he benched a record 340 pounds and deadlifted 485 pounds for a record total of 825.
John Stringa took first place in the Open Raw Bench and the 50-54 age group Raw Bench with a lift of 320 pounds, also a national record.
Jacob Williams was the recipient of the Jeff Peshek Memorial Award for the biggest bench, lifting 430 pounds.
The WNPF is a drug-free organization where no member is permitted to use performance or strength-enhancing drugs of any kind.
