Under the tutelage of one of their fellow students, the Brandon powerlifting team did well for themselves against the state’s best.
Three Brandon students ? James Kennedy, Jesse Trahim, and Eric Cook ? competed at the state championship powerlifting meet March 20 in Montrose. They were accompanied by Brandon junior Andrew Spry, who took over coaching duties for the team this season.
Kennedy was the lone Brandon lifter to compete at the varsity level. He finished seventh in the 145-lb. class, benching a total of 885 lbs.
Trahim placed fifth in the junior varsity super heavyweight division, benching a total of 1,185 lbs. He also set a new school mark for the super heavyweight class, benching 330 lbs. in a single sitting.
Brandon’s other lifter, Cook, finished eighth in the junior varsity 207-lb. class, notching a total of 990 lbs.
The Blackhawks competed in five meets this season, starting Dec. 10 in Coloma, MI (on the west side of the state). They practiced during weightlifting class at school, as well as after school.
Spry, himself a third-year powerlifter, said the team has come a long way since their opening meet.
‘They did very well at the state meet,? he said. ‘Their totals increased from 50-200 lbs. (from the start of the season).?
Spry said he will coach the team again next year. He eventually hopes to attend Oakland University to become a teacher and coach.