The Lansing High School powerlifting team made an early start on Saturday morning, leaving at 4:30 a.m. to compete in the state championship meet in Wellington. The long trip proved worthwhile, as the Lions delivered one of the strongest performances in program history, bringing home multiple medals and state titles.
The Lansing girls team finished 3rd overall, highlighting a day filled with standout performances across several weight classes.
Leading the way was Maddie Newman, who captured the Women’s 180-pound State Championship with a dominant performance. Newman achieved a clean sweep of the lifts, winning the squat, bench, and clean. Her outstanding showing also earned her Lifter of the Meet, recognizing her as one of the top pound-for-pound lifters in the entire state.
Aden Leftwich claimed the Men’s 220-pound State Championship, also completing a clean sweep of the lifts. Leftwich won his weight class by an impressive 200 pounds and made program history by becoming Lansing’s first back-to-back men’s state champion in powerlifting.
Additional state champions included:
Mia Kaaz, Women’s 105-pound State Champion (clean sweep of the lifts)
Ava Shelly, Women’s 123-pound State Champion
Several other Lions earned spots on the podium with strong performances:
Ivy Nguyen – Women’s 105-pound, 2nd place
Megan Nickelson – Women’s 156-pound, 2nd place
Josh Whitaker – Men’s 114-pound, 2nd place
Makalia Hayes – Women’s 140-pound, 3rd place
Congratulations to these student-athletes on an outstanding season and a memorable performance at the state meet!