Raising the bar

Greenfield — Four short years ago, the Whitnall powerlifting "team" consisted of one athlete.

Earlier this month, the team - now more than two dozen strong - won its second straight state championship, and from March 26-28, the unit will compete at the National High School Powerlifting Meet in Wisconsin Dells, where the Falcons' coach is eyeing a top-three finish.

"We went from one guy to six guys to 10 or 12, and this year we had between 25 and 30, and five girls," Whitnall powerlifting coach R.G. Luckow said. "Why did it take off? It's because everyone gets along so well and success breeds success."

And Whitnall has experienced plenty of success. In addition to winning its second straight state title at Seymour High School on March 12-13, Whitnall's jayvee team (athletes 16 and under) was the national runner-up two years ago and third in the nation three years ago.

Individual success has come quickly as well. Four Whitnall powerlifters were crowned state champions: Keng Xiong at 114 pounds, Ryan Lepkowski at 142, Sean Graham at 181 and Scott Erickson at 275. Al Swatek (132) and Nathan Marshall (242) were runners-up.

Marshall set a state record for his weight class in the squat with 650 pounds, a mark good enough for a national record among 16- and 17-year-old boys. He also set a state record with 1,545 total pounds.

Graham set state records in the squat (575) and total weight (1,450).

In addition, junior Alex Dellis, who was third at the state meet at 153, was asked to join the sub-junior World Championship Bench Press Team based on his efforts at last year's national meet. He will compete in a meet in Texas in May.

"I don't think the program has grown faster than I thought it would," Luckow said. "I don't think that's the case, but the way we've performed has and how well the kids have responded as far as getting stronger every year is truly amazing.

"I don't know if it's so much the coaching rather than the kids buying into the program and really wanting to be successful. Whitnall is finally getting there and they are understanding what you put into it is what you get out of it. If you miss one workout, how are you ever going to get it back? If you miss a rep, how are you going to get it back?"

Luckow, a former strength coach for the NFL's Washington Redskins, came to Whitnall in 2006 with a desire to get back into coaching football. He had no intention of starting a powerlifting team, only to help Whitnall football coach Rob Leboeuf's athletes become stronger and better football players.

But the powerlifting team, which became recognized as a club sport by Whitnall last season, grew out of his work with the football team. Six of the athletes that competed at the state tournament were on the Falcons' football team in the fall.

Luckow works with the football team during the season, and powerlifting runs from the day after the football season through the end of March.

But not all the athletes on the powerlifting team play football. Breanne Smith, who placed 12th at the state meet, was the first girl in school history to register a total weight at the state meet, and Pilar Azmani will compete in the national meet after skipping state to be the lead in the school play.

"Everyone thinks that powerlifting is for football, but a third of the kids don't play another sport," Luckow said. "Take Keng. He does nothing else. He comes in, tries it out, and two years later he's a state champion. Not everyone plays basketball during the winter. Not everyone wrestles. Powerlifting gives them something to do."

Luckow said his team enjoys camaraderie the same way traditional team sports do, and said that's a big reason the team has grown so quickly. Another is the obvious self-improvement each athlete sees in him or herself.

"Initially it's, 'What's going on and why's everyone talking about this? Let's give it try,' " Luckow said. "All of a sudden it's, 'Hey, I actually have a chest and my legs are getting pretty good looking.' And then it's, 'I can qualify for state.' Any of my lifters know exactly what they need to qualify at any time of the year."

The Falcons practice four times a week, changing their repetitions and weights as they cycle toward the state meet. Athletes can qualify for state at one of three regional meets held month from December to February.

As for the national meet, Luckow has high expectations.

"If all things drop right, maybe we place top three. Who knows?," he said. "And if not, hopefully everybody just does well."