The White River High powerlifting program showed its might during the state meet, with the Hornet girls placing second and the boys taking fourth.

The state meet, staged May 5 at Northwest Christian High School in Lacey, brought together 151 lifters from 22 schools.

The second-place showing by White River’s girls was particularly noteworthy because the Hornets had only seven competitors, rather than 10 like other teams. Still, the White River squad finished just six points out of the top spot.

Leading the way for the Hornet girls was Tatiana Molinero-Ceras, who earned a state title at 165 pounds. She battled teammate Marissa Bartels until the end, with both totaling 650 pounds for their three lifts. Molinero-Ceras had the edge and took the championship while Bartels was able to boast of a runner-up finish.

Also taking second place for the Hornet girls was Madison Shamley. Also for the girls team, Kaitlyn Pierce and Shintya Sembiring placed third, Ella Moyer was sixth and Lauren Lightburn was fifth.

The Hornet boys saw three lifters – Parker Knaus, Koner McCoy and Chaise Weingard – earn second-place honors. Grant Swettenam placed sixth, Caden Roehr was seventh, Isaac Morris wound up ninth and Joziah Broek was 10th.

In the “pound for pound” category, Molinero-Ceras, a senior, was No. 10 overall among the girls. Knaus, a senior, was No. 6 and sophomore McCoy was No. 9 overall among all the boys at state.

Four Hornet lifters set state raw records: McCoy deadlifted 425 pounds in the 132-pound weight class; Weingard, a junior, benched 250 in the 165 weight class; Bartels, a sophomore, squatted 275 in the 165 weight class; and Molinero-Ceras deadlifted 285 in the 165 weight class. Both Bartels and Molinero-Ceras set a state record in the 165-pound weight class by totaling 650 pounds in their three lifts (squat, bench press and dead lift).