Beyond the Game: Whitnall High School powerlifting



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Powerlifting is a sport that consists of three attempts at maximal weight on three lifts: squat, bench press and deadlift. FOX6's Tom Pipines took a closer look at the Whitnall High School powerlifting team.

The ladies and gents who do the heavy lifting for Coach Scott Schubert and Coach R.G. Luke O' are four-time defending state champions and two-time defending national champions.

Senior Nate Stemo is a football player who has qualified for state since he was a freshman. Last year, Stemo won both the state and national titles in his weight class.

Senior Madi Choppa started powerlifting last year. This is the second year she has qualified for state. Choppa has been riding horses since she was 10. She plans to be on the equestrian team at the University of Wisconsin. She is a lady powerlifter who can squat 305 pounds.

Junior Drake Ambroch is another Whitnall Falcons football player who competes at 220 pounds.

Lauren Lent is just a freshman. A former gymnast who runs cross country and pitches for the softball team took up powerlifting because her sister's boyfriend was competing at Whitnall. Lent qualified for state, and can deadlift and squat 305 pounds -- and she only weighs 114!

The immediate goal for the Whitnall High School athletes is to become the second team in Wisconsin history to win five state championships in a row.