George Diers

George+Diers

After Creighton Prep’s first powerlifting meet with their new raw lifting, they’ve once again taken state. Prep junior George Diers is looking to do well at state after moving up a weight at the first meet, but still being able to take first in the weight.

After Prep’s sweeping victory last year, losing their first meet this year might have seemed like a concern, but team learn from their mistakes and is ready to take state. Though they are lacking in heavyweight lifters this year, Prep’s heavyweights aren’t lacking in talent, and the lighter weights are looking great.

“I think people were nervous going into the first meet, trying everything new and second coach did score some kids who didn’t even place,” Diers said. “Now that we know what we want to do for state, we should do a lot better.”

Even though Prep lost the first meet, they still did really well. Many of the lighter weights -114 to 123 pounds – placed in the top three. With lifters like Diers and Peter Kinney doing well in the light weights, and Michael Sunclades in the heavier weights.

“It’s a lot different this year because last year we swept the floor, nobody even came close to beating us, but this year we actually lost which is a big deal,” Diers said. “We should do better at state.”

The biggest change for Prep’s lifters this year is the change from gear lifting to raw lifting. Though Nebraska is mixed with school with gear lifting and raw lifting, Prep’s main competition this year is Brownell Talbot.

“It is going to be better for all the teenagers lifting raw so when they actually go out and workout on their own, they are going to be use to it,” Diers said.

With coach Dan Barton being the one to change off gear to raw, the change has been going well. One of the reason for the change was because it shows how much a student can lift, not how good their gear is.

“I think raw lifting is better because it’s healthier, it’s going to let kids grow better,” Diers said.

Though there is a group of dedicated powerlifters, the group of powerlifters come from all over. The group consist of strong football players, dedicated powerlifters, and students Barton wanted to join from his fitness for life class.

“A majority of our team is on the lighter half of the scale, but we did pick up a couple players from football, so we’re looking good going into state,” Diers said.