By By Tim Cottrell
The Northview High School weightlifting team is working hard in the weight room to pump at Panama City Saturday afternoon.
The team participated Monday in the district weightlifting competition and six Chiefs qualified for the sectional meet held Saturday at Bay High School in Panama City. That competition was incomplete at press time. Look for full coverage in Wednesday's Atmore Advance.
Qualifiers for the sectional meet were Matt Walker, who finished third in the 129-pound weight class; Chris Hale, third place in the 139-pound class; Deonta Davison, first place in the 154-pound class; Justin Johnson, third place in the 239-pound class; Abe Shoemo, second place in the heavyweight class; and Nakita Myles, who qualified in third place in the 169-pound weight class after another competitor was disqualified Wednesday.
Cody Keene, weightlifting coach and head coach of the Northview football team, was proud of his squad's efforts.
"The kids are working hard to get stronger," Keene said. "They're making progress and working hard. They're all football players, and the weightlifting has them headed in the right direction."
There are several lifts the weightlifting squad focuses a lot of attention on.
"Our core lifts are the bench press, the squat, the power clean, and the incline bench," Keene said. "We've been working hard on those."
Keene also felt the weightlifting team's efforts would have a positive impact on the football program.
"Last year we had two players who could bench-press more than 245 pounds," Keene said. "Right now we have 14 benching 250 or better. We're hoping by the start of spring practice to have 20 benching that much."
Keene felt the weightlifting program was doing wonders on his players' psyches.
"Attitudes are getting better," Keene said. "A lot of these kids are getting a lot stronger. Some of them are really starting to understand what it takes to have a winning program."