UHD Powerlifting Club Team Finishes Eighth at World Tournament UHD’s Linda Okoro chalked up, grabbed the bar for a deadlift, and when the weights hit the mat she’d won all the awards in her 148-pound weight class as well as Best Lifter, Junior Women at the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters (WABDL) World Bench Press and Deadlift Championships in Reno, Nev., Oct. 30 - Nov. 1. Okoro, a sophomore pursuing a marketing degree, lifted 402.2 pounds or roughly the weight of the average refrigerator. John Hudson, assistant professor of Eng-
UHD’s powerlifting club team received a loud send-off at a pep rally sponsored by the Sports and Fitness Center that included the UHD Gator and cheerleaders. The team finished eighth overall at the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters World Bench Press and Deadlift Championships. The men and women also won individual medals and set records in their first trip to the world championship.
lish and UHD Club Powerlifting Team head coach, said the feat is akin to him lifting 800 pounds. “I’ve done 727, which is impressive, but not otherworldly,” Hudson said. “To put it better, Linda lifting 402 at 148 is like a 148 junior male lifting 600 or more. None of the men achieved that mark.” Okoro, 24 teammates and Hudson competed in the world championships for the first time and finished eighth against junior and adult competitors from throughout the world. The eighth place finish is a
good result for a collegiate team, which by definition is limited to fielding lifters in two divisions: Teen and Junior, Hudson said. Other teams are free to field lifters in all divisions, increasing their possibilities for high individual placings which result in maximum team points. This tournament adds to the team’s growing list of achievements. The two-year-old UHD program has built a reputation for excellence with teams winning two consecutive national collegiate club team titles.
Team Accomplishments: • Individual World Championships - 15 (Bench Press and Deadlift are separate events, so one lifter competing in both events can win two separate championships.)
Individual Runner-up Finishes - 9 • State Records - 27 • National Records - 13 • Mexican National Records - 8 • Overall Best Lifter Trophies - 1: Linda Okoro (Best Lifter trophies are awarded to the lifter in a division who lifts the most according to a bodyweight formula. Linda was the Best Lifter for all Junior Women. The Junior Division is for lifters ages 20 through 25.)
"The UHD lifters were truly outstanding ambassadors of UHD," Hudson said. For their first trip to the world stage, he • 8th in the Team Standings received many compliments throughout the event on the conduct, class and team Individual Results: spirit of the UHD lifters. Other lifters, fans • Head Coach Hudson successfully defended his World and officials described the UHD lifters as Championship in Bench Press for the 308 weight class of the Master 40-46 Division with a 639.2 polite, respectful and enthusiastic, Hudson Bench Press. He placed 3rd in the Open Division. said. The meet was successful in terms of His Bench Press was a new Texas State Master 40championships won and records broken. 46 Record.
Many high school and community college • Rocio Ruiz, lifting in the 132 weight class of the Junlifters and their parents were interested in ior Division, placed 3rd in the Bench Press with 77.0 what UHD has to offer, athletically and and 3rd in the Deadlift with 198.2. academically, Hudson said. One especially • Linda Okoro, lifting in the 148 weight class of the interested lifter is a community college Junior Division, placed 1st in the Bench Press with 138.8 and 1st in the Deadlift with 402.2 (this is student in Hawaii who has been looking considered an incredible weight for her bodyweight, for a four-year university with a successful Hudson said). powerlifting program. The student and his • Olga Hernandez, lifting in the 198 weight class of father are planning to visit UHD as they the Junior Division, placed 3rd in the Bench Press consider the possibility of his transfer here with 126.7 and 3rd in the Deadlift with 253.5. for fall 2010. • Jesus Sanchez, lifting in the 114 weight class of the
The Sports and Fitness Center sponsored a pep rally to send the powerlifting and soccer teams off to competitions. Team members received individual introductions and cheers from UHD’s new cheerleading squad and Gator mascot.
"UHD Powerlifting is becoming a powerful Teen Division, placed 1st in the Bench Press with 215.8 and 1st in the Deadlift with 330.5. recruitment tool in attracting students to our campus," Hudson said. He fielded so • Tomy Le, lifting in the 123 weight class of the Teen Division, placed 1st in the Bench Press with 137.7 many requests for information that he and 1st in the Deadlift with 270.0. would like to have a representative from the UHD Admissions Office accompany the • Ilian Rojas, lifting in the 181 weight class of the Teen Division, placed 3rd in the Bench Press with team to its next major event. 314.0 and 2nd in the Deadlift with 429.7.
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