First Annual Weight Lifting Competition
Southington, Berlin do well in first Connecticut High School Football Weight Lifting Competition
By CARL JOSEPHSON
On Saturday, a number of football teams from around the state competed in the first annual Connecticut High School Football Weight Lifting Competition at New London High School, hosted by the Nutmeg State Games.
Representing the area teams were Southington and Berlin, who brought players to New London so they could show off their strength. The Blue Knights were impressive, finishing in fourth place, lifting a grand total of 11,905 pounds.
The Redcoats finished 10th among the 19 teams in attendance, lifting a total of 9,990 pounds.
Open to players currently in ninth, 10th or 11th grade, the event was a huge success. Each team assigned three players to compete in three different events across five weight classes. The power clean, bench press and squat were the three events.
Patrick Fisher, who is the executive director of the Connecticut Sports Management Group, Inc., put together the event and was pleased with the overall result.
“We were excited to be able to resurrect the state wide high school lifting competition,” Fisher said. “Our hope is to be able to offer this competition each year to the top high football programs in the state.”
While no member of Berlin finished in the top three in any weight class, Southington had a great showing from a few different competitors.
Matt Koczera, a junior defensive lineman who played a big role in the Knights’ victory over Fairfield Prep in the Class LL state championship game last fall, placed first in the 181-200 weight class. In the three events combined, Koczera lifted 940 pounds total.
In his weight class, Koczera finished first in the power clean, lifting 260 pounds, and second in the bench press, lifting 305 pounds.
In the 201-220 weight class, Southington junior defensive lineman Dan Williams also placed first, lifting a total of 990 pounds. While he did not place in the bench press, Williams a weight class-best 460 pounds in the squat and finished second in the power clean, lifting 255 pounds.
Peter Majchrzak, a junior wide receiver and defensive back for the Knights, placed second in the 160 and under division, lifting 780 pounds total. Majchrzak came in third in his weight class in the bench press, lifting 235 pounds.
Alessio Diana, a sophomore running back, was also impressive in the 160 and under division, placing first in both the bench press (240 pounds) and the power clean (240 pounds).
In the 161-180 division, junior wide receiver and defensive back Matt Maxwell placed second in the power clean (255 pounds) and third in the bench press (265 pounds).
Junior defensive lineman Zack Spooner came in third in the bench press (275 pounds) in the 181-200 division.
Jay Rose, a sophomore who is set to become Southington’s quarterback in his junior year next season, placed first in the bench press in the 201-220 division, lifting 300 pounds.
Rounding out the numerous Blue Knights participants was Noah MacDonald, a junior offensive lineman who came in third in the power clean (250 pounds) in the over-220 pounds division.
Cheshire came in first overall, lifting a total of 12,490 pounds, while Daniel Hand placed second with 12,205 pounds. One of the two Shelton teams participating placed third, lifting 12,140 pounds in total.
