My City March 2023

MYSPORTS

“Evelyn came so close to shattering her deadlift best with a great effort at 393 pounds, but the judges ruled she slightly pushed the bar with her hips and could not approve it," he says. "That would have left her at about 892 pounds, but she had to settle for a 352-pound deadlift. I could tell it was only a matter of time." Goodrich competes in both USAPL and Michigan High School Powerlifting Association events and Edenburn went 845 in winning her next competition, a December 17 MHSPLA regional in Grass Lake which qualified her for the state meet for the fifth time in as many seasons on the team. The varsity state meet is March 4 at Adrian High School. Edenburn is already in her fifth season with the team because MHSP LA rules allow lifters in grades 7-12 to all compete at the high school level, another selling point Roberts uses to recruit new faces. The only stipulations are that those in grades 7-8 must remain on junior varsity and grades 11-12 must compete at the varsity level. Coaches determine where lifters in grades 9-10 compete. The rules have led to a unique situation for Goodrich this season – all four Edenburn sisters are now part of the program. Evelyn and Lilly, a sophomore, have been joined by seventh-grade siblings Mabel and Adeline, born one year apart.

SISTER ACT: ALL FOUR EDENBURN GIRLS ARE NOW PART OF THE POWERLIFTING PROGRAM.

This year, Edenburn will be joined at the national championships by fresh man Kyleigh Randall, who qualified by winning the JV, 65kg (165lb) division at the USAPL regional with a 540-pound total, showing significant progress in her second season on the team. Randall overcame some nerves as most eyes in the gym were watching her complete a 248-pound deadlift to qualify. "I was nervous early in that compe tition and had settled down more when I got to the deadlift, but it was a little crazy when they announced to every body that I was about to attempt the lift to qualify," she says. "I was just so happy to be going to nationals." Roberts was elated. “Kyleigh is my best up-and-com ing lifter and handled the situation beautifully at the end, despite having to deadlift on command with so many people watching her." Randall is the lone Genesee County girl and one of only four from Mich igan scheduled to compete in the JV division. She boasts the third-best qualifying mark in her weight class.

"It’s been exciting having two more sisters on the team working out with Lilly and me," Evelyn says. "Now, I can really show them by example what it takes to be successful in powerlifting. I know they are looking up to me and that gives me extra motivation to make them proud." A year ago, Lilly and Evelyn both competed in the same division (90 kg or 198 pounds) at the junior varsity national championships with Lilly tak ing third behind Evelyn's national title. improving their overall focus and helping them im prove academically. Coach Ron Roberts Most girls are amazed by what powerlifting does for them – like in stilling confidence,

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