ROYAL CITY - Powerlifting instructor Paula Olsufka put together a powerlifting team at Royal High for the first time this winter and spring, and three of his boys medaled at the state championships on May 3.

"We qualified four of them for the championships, but Antonio Mayorga (165) was not able to compete due to prior commitments," Olsufka said.

This was the first year Royal had anyone compete. Olsufka had been talking to boys and girls for the past two years trying to get some to go.

Olsufka had a total of seven athletes compete in the different competitions held throughout the winter and spring in western Washington. They were Francisco Gomez, Johnny Montoya, Tony Mercado, Antonio Mayorga, Daniel Mendoza, Kiki Chabolla and Hunter Follett.

"Daniel, Antonio and Francisco asked me about going to the first meet at White River," Olsufka said. "So we went and then went to two more after that with the different boys."

The four individuals who qualified for the championships were Chabolla at 123 pounds, Mendoza at 165, Mayorga at 165 and Hunter Follett at 220.

"Antonio would have done very well," Olsufka said. "Judging from the results and what he had been doing in the weight room, he might have finished as high as second or third."

The three who did compete placed. Chabolla and Mendoza took fifth place in their weight divisions. Follett took seventh in his. Medals are awarded to eighth place.

The tournament had 140 athletes competing in the White Salmon High gym at five different lifting stations. The girls started with the squat, followed by the boys. Then the girls bench, followed by the boys and finally the dead lift for the girls and boys.

"It is was very enjoyable watching our athletes compete," Olsufka said. "They very much enjoyed the challenge and competition from around the state."

Olsufka noted that when someone was putting up a big lift, everyone was cheering him or her on. Even though they are competing against each other, they were pulling for each other.

Chabolla had a Squat of 215 pounds, a Bench of 170 and a Dead Lift of 300 for a total weight of 685 lbs.

Daniel Mendoza had a Squat 385, a bench of 250 and Dead Lift of 445 for a total of 1080. Follett lifted a Squat of 380, a Bench of 245 and Dead Lift of 460 for a total of 1085.

"I am very proud of our lifters and the effort they put forth this season," Olsufka said. "We are hoping to host an event at Royal next season. All of the competitions are on the west side of the state. We are hoping to generate more interest on the east side in the years to come."