WRHS powerlifters crack two records at state

The Hornet boys captured second-place team honors; girls placed fourth in the final standings.

By Kevin Hanson, contributor • June 8, 2023 9:30 am
White River High was again a force at the state powerlifting championships. In these photos state champion Darbie Pearson is dead lifting 200 pounds with coach Juan Garibay doing the spotting, and Bennett Fraker dead lifting 325 pounds while getting encouragement from spotter Christian Chaussee. Submitted photos
White River High was again a force at the state powerlifting championships. In these photos state champion Darbie Pearson is dead lifting 200 pounds with coach Juan Garibay doing the spotting, and Bennett Fraker dead lifting 325 pounds while getting encouragement from spotter Christian Chaussee. Submitted photos

It’s not unusual for White River High to be in the mix for honors during the annual state powerlifting competition. This year, that trend continued.

During the state meet at Shelton High School the Hornet boys captured second-place team honors and the White River girls placed fourth in the final standings. The squad, under the direction of coach Juan Garibay, also boasted a pair of individual state champions.

Heading those efforts was Lyle Dolojan, who now can claim back-to-back state titles. This time around, he took top honors at 148 pounds. Part of that achievement was setting a weight-class record in the squat, where he lifted 390 pounds.

Dolojan wasn’t the only Hornet establishing a new state record. Caleb Dale, competing at 165 pounds, cracked the record book in his division with a squat of 450 pounds.

The team’s other individual state champion was on the girls’ side of the competition, where Darbie Pearson took the title at 105 pounds.

Aside from the two state champions, White River boasted two second-place finishers in Claire Holm and Dale. Taking third-place honors were Jillian Tague, Carson Kruger and Issac Melnik.

Additionally, Luke Lisherness, Bennett Fraker and Sicily Schoenbachler placed fourth; Wiatt Brame, Taylor Simon and Riley Woods finished fifth; and Jack Robbins wound up sixth.

Rylan Heifner, Logan Macias and Joscelyn Barenaba came in seventh; Colton Knudtson and Katherine Marek placed eighth; Elisabeth Friis was ninth; and Jacob Wiley finished 10th. Also representing White River at the state meet was Emily Knudtson.