Powerlifting: Men Take 2009 National Championship; Women Finish Third – photos available

        On March 29th The University of Louisiana-Lafayette Men’s and
Women’s powerlifting teams made history in Baton Rouge at the Collegiate
Powerlifting Nationals.

Click here for the Powerlifting website and pictures:  www.ragincajunpowerlifting.com  

The Men’s team claimed their first ever National Championship on
Sunday, edging out more than thirty schools for the title. After coming in
second, by one point, to Louisiana Tech at the 2008 National Championships
the men’s team went into this meet with the one goal of winning it all. On
the first day of the three day meet, Justin Doan placed 2nd in the 114 pound
class. Chris Wright placed 3rd in the 132 class while Demetrius Thomas
placed 5th. Mike Broussard won the 148 pound class national championship for
the second year in a row, as well as the best male lightweight lifter. Along
with his individual win, Mike Broussard broke the collegiate American bench
press record with a bench of 385 pounds.  Also lifting in the 148 pound
class was Joshua Guillory who came in 14th. The second day held some of the
largest flights of lifters but the ULL men were strong and made an impact.
Sam Bennett gained national champion status by winning the 165 pound weight
class. Bennett set the Teenage American Bench Press record, Collegiate Bench
press record, and Collegiate National collegiate bench press records with a
strong bench of 440 pounds. Brice Higgonbotham also had a strong performance
in the 165 weight class coming in 3rd place. In the 181 weight class Cameron
Barrilleaux placed 18th and James Cole came in 33rd. J.P. Vincent placed
11th and Alex Thomson 13th in the 198 weight class. Going into the last day
of competition UL had three lifters left. The pressure was high but the men
proved that they would not be beat, with a strong final showing. 
Senior/Men’s team Captain; Kerry Louque battled a tough 242 pound weight
class to come out with a 3rd place finish. Colin White and Tyler Traweek
were the last lifters of the day in the 275 pound weight class. White came
in 3rd place and Traweek came in 12th. Adam Crepelle, Billy Naquin, and Matt
Whitehurst also participated in the meet. Other Men’s teams that placed in
the top twelve were Louisiana Tech, University of Texas- San Antonio, Army,
LSU, Texas A & M, Florida Gulf Coast University, Penn State, University of
Texas, Sam Houston State, Navy, and Kent State.
The Women’s team placed third in the nation with only six lifters
finishing the meet. Adrianne Thibodeaux placed 3rd and Terrilyn Cormier
placed 6th in the 114 pound class. In the 123 pound weight class Elizabeth
Fletcher placed 8th. Senior /Women’s team Captain, Abby Holmes finished up
her collegiate powerlifting career with a 2nd place finish in the 165 weight
class. Melissa Scott claimed the 198 pound national championship, which is
the first for a ULL woman lifter in many years. Mary Diana Bradley placed
2nd in the 198 pound class. Ena Peebles also participated in the meet.
Coming in first place for the women’s title was LSU, second was Texas A & M,
over ULL by 2 points. Rounding out the top six were Navy, Louisiana Tech,
and Penn State.
After a short break the team will start training for next year’s
meets, which include Collegiate Nationals in Orlando, Florida.

Submitted by John K. Laverge March 31, 2009