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Antlers meet

Joseph Moreno and Keldon Risinger
Joseph Moreno and Keldon Risinger

 

Kingston lifters win at Antlers
 
by Jon Dohrer
Kingston Public Schools
 
ANTLERS — The Kingston powerlifting team is building momentum and confidence after its first meet win in several years.
Friday, the Redskins took first place among 17 teams at the Antlers Blue and Gold Classic powerlifting meet. Led by individual champions Joseph Moreno at 145 pounds and Jaime Furister at 123, the Redskins scored 72 team points to put themselves ahead of Heavener's 69 points and Broken Bow's 67.
Head coach John Caraway said the excitement among team members continues to build after solid outings in Kingston's first two meets.
"We're feeling pretty good about it — the kids are excited," Caraway said. "I don't know when was the last time Kingston won a powerlifting meet, but I know it's been a while. These kids are working hard and they're buying into what we're trying to do."
Moreno turned in his best performance to date, according to Caraway. Moreno won the 145-pound class with 850 total pounds, including wins in the squat and bench.
For the second consecutive meet, Furister swept his division, winning the 
squat, bench press and dead lift, compiling an impressive 820 total pounds and a maximum 24 team points.
Adam Wild finished third at 123 pounds with 645 total pounds. Keldon Risinger also placed for Kingston, taking fourth at 145, and winning the dead lift.
Dalton Williams place fifth overall at 181, and finished second in the squat. Dustin Gibson didn't place overall in the 181 division, but finished second in the bench, helping the Redskins cement their victory.
"Gibby really stepped up for us," Caraway said. "He didn't place, but we really needed points in the bench — we were sitting in like second or third at the time, and he helped put us over the top."
Others participating for Kingston were Kegan Barker, Blake Beesley, Danny Davidson, Aaron King, John Lehr, Chris Miller, Austin Park, Conlin Southerlend, Christopher Salas, Ty Thurlo and Chance Williams.
While the Redskins don't compete in as many meets as some squads, Caraway said the competitive aspect of weightlifting provides some additional incentive.
"It makes it more fun, and another thing it does is, if you see you're maybe ten pounds out in an event, it motivates you to keep working and make that up," the coach said.
The Redskins will look to continue their success in regional competition March 1 at a site to be announced.