Kennard-Dale athletes win titles at state powerlifting competition

Six Kennard-Dale athletes earned state titles at the Pennsylvania State Powerlifting Championships held April 25 at Glen Mills High School.

Kennard-Dale fell short in its bid to bring home a third straight team championship, placing second behind champion Upper Perkiomen in the eight-team raw division.

Kennard-Dale's Jake Deppen (132 pounds), Ryan Vipperman (148), Joe Bitner (165), Duke Little (198) and Daniel Creter (super heavyweight) each won varsity individual championships.

Creter became Kennard-Dale's first four-time state champion in the sport.

Kennard-Dale's Zach McFatridge (super heavyweight) won the junior varsity title with York County Tech's Kyle Kohler placing second.

The state meet does not allow ninth- and 10th-grade athletes to compete at the varsity level.

"It's a collection of things," Kennard-Dale coach Niko Huslander said in regards to Kennard-Dale's success at the state level. "Besides the powerlifting and CrossFit training they get in school, it really comes down to the effort from the kids. They really enjoy the sport, and they love being involved with a winning program."

Kennard-Dale lifters also set three state records.

Little, competing in the 198-pound division, set the state deadlift record at 585 pounds. He also set the total combined record (squat, bench press and deadlift) at 1,240 pounds.

Partee set the record in bench press in the 242-pound weight class, pressing 315 pounds.

Several York athletes cracked the top three. Kennard-Dale's Mike Bracey placed third (132) and Kennard-Dale's Partee (242) placed second. York County Tech's Paris McDermott (275) placed third.

Kennard-Dale's Dan Eagle (148) added a third-place finish in junior varsity action.

IRON RAM PUSH/PULL >> Kennard-Dale won the team competition at the powerlifting meet it hosted Saturday. York Tech placed second. Red Lion, Susquehannock, Southern Columbia and Harford Tech (Md.) participated at the meet.