On March 2 this year, Wellington hosted the 4A State Powerlifting Meet during which the Lady Crusaders lifted enough weight as a team to earn their spot at the top of the podium, and now their CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS have arrived!!  In a small gathering this afternoon in the freshly painted weight room, Coach Matthew Mason presented his lifters with hefty rings with "STATE CHAMPIONS" emblazoned on the face with the Crusader logo set in the middle.  On one side, it reads "Wellington Crusaders 2024" with a weight plate, and on the other side is the student athlete's name, a barbell, and "11,275 lbs," which is the combined weight that the team lifted during the state meet. 

The members of the 2024 WHS Girls State Powerlifting Champion Team were Brittan Zeka, Ellie Hays, Presley Cornejo, Maya Cornejo, Addy Wilson, Isabelle Cullens, Kyndal Rusk, Kyra Cornejo, Whitney Zeka, Anna McMinn, Kadence Westmoreland, Taylor Earl, Dalee Strange, Cadence Aue, Caylee Bringer, Blair Daugherty, Dru Zeka, Katelyn Kessler, Mikayla Ybarra, Presley Metcalf, Sheadyn Stewart, Karsyn White, Aleena Rinehart, Claire Ginter, Thalia Garcia, Sophie Soria, Addi Schnelle, Brylee Johnson, Lyndi Barton, Kadynce Aufdengarten, Assistant Coach Ashley Cashier, and Head Coach Matthew Mason.  Kyndal Rusk, a senior this year, and Whitney Zeka, who just graduated this May, were also individual Champions in their respective weight classes.

A few of the team members were gone from the event due to college or other prior commitments, but a good number of these athletes were on-hand to collect their rings together.  

In addition to the girls team, Wellington also had two individual boys Champions: Maverick Peterson and Cayson Ramirez.  Their rings will be arriving soon!

Congratulations to all of these fine young Crusaders and their coaches--they deserve every recognition for their commitment to excellence--and let's collect more rings this upcoming season!  GO BIG RED!

GIRLS STATE POWERLIFTING CHAMPIONSHIP RING DISTRIBUTION 081424

Photos by Katie Ford/wellington.cc