Sisters lifters shine in powerlifting

Weightlifters from Sisters' Level 5 gym turned in stellar performances in the 2016 USPA state powerlifting championships held June 18-19 on the beach in Newport.

Team Level 5 brought nine lifters to the coast and came back to Sisters with lots of hardware and state records.

The team consisted of four men, three women, and two youth lifters that all together earned 10 gold medals and one silver medal. The lone silver medal was second only to another Level 5 lifter.

The team set an impressive total of 30 new records.

"Couldn't be more proud of our team's performance!" said Team Level 5 coach and lifter Ryan Hudson.

Hudson earned a couple of first-place finishes and honors as best overall lifter, also setting a new American squat record of 517 in his class.

Brady Wessel took gold in the junior division, while setting junior state records in squat, bench, deadlift and total.

Joe Mendez set a new record of 380 pounds in the age 40-44, 198-pound weight class on his way to another Level 5 first place.

Jon Rumgay took first in the 35-39 division while Cenobia Gonzales in the 198 weight class took first place in the open division and first place in the 35-39 division with a new open state record in bench press and new 35-39 state records in squat, bench, deadlift and total.

Doreen Matecki earned first place 50-54 division with new state in squat, bench deadlift and total.

Anne Geser set new state records in squat, bench, deadlift and total on her way to a first-place finish.

Jadynn Mendez took a youth division gold with state records in squat, bench, deadlift and total, and Cam Wessel took silver in the 123-pound weight class.