Whitnall Powerlifting Team Adds Second National Title

With another state and national championship trophy safely tucked away in the , Whitnall powerlifting coach RG Luckow already has his sights set on 2013.

“I don’t want to jinx it, but it would be nice to win state next year again,” Luckow said. “I think only one other team in the history of Wisconsin powerlifting has five straight. It would be nice to go five.”

In early March, the Falcons won their fourth straight state championship by dominating a meet at South Milwaukee. Last weekend, they were dominant again, this time earning more than half (62) of a possible 120 points at the national meet in Wisconsin Dells to defend the crown they originally grabbed in 2011.

“The vast majority of last year’s team was gone, and (this year’s) national team was only made up of three seniors and the rest were sophomores and juniors,” Luckow said. “They were overachievers.

“I did not go in to nationals thinking we were going to win. We didn’t even take a full team. … It was something, to be honest with you, I would not have expected it.”

A pair of individual champs led the Falcons. Nate Stemo was crowned national champion at 148 pounds with a weight total of 1,190 pounds, just ahead of teammate Troy Monty, who was second with 1,146 pounds.

The championship came down to Monty’s final deadlift, which he just missed, according to Luckow.

The Falcons’ other champion came at 114 pounds where Danny Voelkel won with a total of 843 pounds.

Zach Harenda was the runner-up at 123 with 915 pound and Jacob Hardy was third at 242 with 1,499 pounds.

In addition Drake Ambroch placed sixth at 198, Danny Bigalke was seventh at 165 and Andy Karwoski was eighth at 132. Ambroch, who is just 15, set an American record with a squat of 612 pounds.

“I’m very proud of these guys,” Luckow said. “They really worked together, trained hard all year and found away to get it done. I’m still smiling about it. It’s been amazing.”

At the junior varsity level, Trevor Fuller set a national jayvee record in the squat at 446 pounds en route to his national championship. Matt Bublitz, at 220 pounds, finished seventh for the Falcons.

Colleen Barnstable finished seventh in the girls varsity meet at 148 pounds.