Hitting New Personal Records, the New College Powerlifting Team Takes Gold and Silver in Jacksonville
Muscling their way to multiple first- and second-place wins, the New College Powerlifting Team came home with a collection of medals after the Powerlifting America 5th Annual Jacksonville Open Powerlifting Championship on February 19.
“This competition was a great example of the progress that everyone has made, and a wonderful acknowledgement of the effort that everyone puts in on this team,” said first-year student and team co-captain Alyx Tyler. “Being on the competition team means that you’re an individual who has shown dedication and put in hard work at practice.”
The team’s seven participants (the most lifters to ever represent New College competitively) included Tyler, third-year/co-captain Zory Fahringer, first-year Antuan Sconiers Jr., and second-year Jack Stephens (four new competitors); as well as third-year/co-captain Kathy Abbott, and thesis students Marina Sidlow and Taylor Young (three returning competitors). Thesis students Jacob Brody-Ogborn and Daniel Schell offered support during the event, as did the team’s new coach, Nick King.
Abbott earned a gold medal in her weight and age division, and achieved a new personal record (PR) for a 193-pound back squat. Tyler took gold and hit a 225-pound back squat PR, a 125-pound bench press PR, and a 270-pound deadlift PR. Fahringer earned gold and hit a 170-pound deadlift PR. For their ages and weight divisions, Sidlow took silver and Young took gold. Stephens earned a gold medal, and hit a 210-pound back squat PR and a 300-pound deadlift PR. Sconiers achieved a 330-pound deadlift PR and took home a gold medal.
Four gold medals for four new competitors? It was a feat, and a first.
“This team is full of wonderful people who help create a supportive community and positive environment at each practice and competition,” Tyler said. “Also, the sport and club of powerlifting itself is a great outlet to relieve stress through exercise, as well as a great place to make some long-lasting friendships.”
This competition is part of a major resurgence for the team, building on the success of the November 21 18th Annual USA Powerlifting Florida Collegiate State Championships in Orlando. There, five New College powerlifters (Abbott, Sidlow, Young, Schell and Brody-Ogborn) earned three fourth-place medals. It was the team’s first competition in two years, and Young, Sidlow and Brody-Ogborn all placed fourth in their respective weight classes.
The three-year-old team was founded in November 2018 and, in April 2019, three New College athletes attended their first competition (the 37th Annual USA Powerlifting Florida State Championships). That November, three athletes competed in the 16th Annual USA Powerlifting Florida Collegiate State Championships (Young placed third and Schell placed fourth).
In February 2020, five athletes competed in the 3rd Annual USA Powerlifting Southwest Florida Open Championships (New College earned first place for overall team performance). About a month later, the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to the competitions.
Now the team is notching wins left and right. And for those interested in joining or observing, the next mock meet will be held on the campus tennis courts on April 29.
To support the New College Powerlifting Team, visit instagram.com/ncfpowerlifting and gofund.me/fdc525cb.
Abby Weingarten is the senior editor in the Office of Communications & Marketing.