Iron and Grit: Thrilling Finishes and Massive Lifts at the PHSPA State Championships

JIM THORPE, PA — The atmosphere inside the Jim Thorpe High School gymnasium was electric on April 25th as the finest young powerlifters from across the Commonwealth gathered for the 2026 PHSPA High School State Championships Powerlifting Results April 25th Jim Thorpe Pennsylvania.xlsx.

From incredible battles for the podium decided by mere pounds to eye-popping displays of maximum strength, the event showcased the massive growth and elite talent currently surging through the Pennsylvania high school powerlifting scene.

Down to the Wire: The Closest Battles on the Platform

Powerlifting is a game of millimeters and strategy, and several divisions came down to the very final deadlift attempts to determine who walked away with the state title.

• Men’s 74kg (163 lbs) Junior Varsity: In what was arguably the most thrilling head-to-head matchup of the day, Brody Gordon edged out Ben Strickland by a razor-thin margin of just 5 pounds. Gordon secured the top spot with an exceptional 1,015-pound total, just staying ahead of Strickland’s valiant 1,010-pound performance.
• Men’s 83kg (182.75 lbs) Varsity: The raw varsity division saw a phenomenal clash between Kenji Keller (Parkland Powerlifting) and hometown favorite Nicholas Hale (Jim Thorpe). Keller ultimately secured the gold with a 1,240-pound total, fueled by a massive, field-leading 365-pound bench press. Hale pushed him to the absolute brink, finishing a mere 25 pounds behind with a stellar 1,215-pound total.
• Men’s 105kg (231.25 lbs) Junior Varsity: Local lifter Michael D. Solt put on a show for the home crowd at Jim Thorpe. In a heavy-hitting battle, Solt managed a fantastic 1,240-pound total to take 1st place, staving off a fierce push from Sawyer Wilson, who took the runner-up spot with a 1,215-pound total.
• Women’s 52kg (114.50 lbs) Varsity: On the raw varsity side, Gisseliz Martinez claimed a hard-fought state title with a 600-pound total, holding off Mariah Eve McClendon, who secured second place with a close 580-pound total.

The Heavy Hitters: Biggest Lifts of the Day

When it came to moving absolute mountains of steel, several lifters left the crowd in absolute awe.

The King of the Platform: Ethan Castillo

Representing Hershey Powerlifting in the Men’s Equipped Varsity 120kg (264.50 lbs) class, Ethan Castillo put together the single most dominant performance of the championships:

• The Highest Total: A massive 1,565 lbs
• The Biggest Bench Press: A spectacular 390 lbs
• The Biggest Deadlift: An incredible 575 lbs
• The Biggest Squat: A towering 600 lbs

The 600-Pound Squat Club

Castillo wasn’t the only lifter to break the magical 600-pound barrier. In the equipped flights, Hershey Powerlifting teammates Chavis Schneier (competing at just 83kg / 182.75 lbs) and Asad Qureshi (120kg / 264.50 lbs) both successfully commanded 600-pound squats, bringing the crowd to their feet. Schneier would go on to post the second-highest total of the entire meet with a spectacular 1,440 pounds.

Elite Raw Strength

On the raw side, Julian Diaz of Parkland Powerlifting (105kg / 231.25 lbs) showed staggering raw power, registering a massive 545-pound squat and a 335-pound bench press en route to a stellar 1,420-pound total—the highest raw total of the entire event.

Meanwhile, Nazere Thomas Brown (Dover) and Andrew Stohler (Northern Lebanon) locked in spectacular 560-pound deadlifts to lead the raw division pulling power. Special mention goes to Steven Carreras of Donegal, who pulled an unbelievable 545-pound deadlift at a bodyweight of just 163 pounds!

Host Highlights: Jim Thorpe Protects the Home Platform

The hosting Olympians gave their local fans plenty to cheer for. In addition to the spectacular silver-medal performance by Nicholas Hale (83kg Varsity) and the thrilling gold-medal victory by Michael D. Solt (105kg JV), Jim Thorpe crowned another champion in Xavier Bryant, who dominated the Men’s Raw JV Superheavyweight class (120kg+) with an outstanding 1,135-pound total.

Jacob Herring also secured gold for the home team in the Men’s Raw Youth 83kg class, putting together a highly impressive 950-pound total.

Looking Ahead: Returning to Jim Thorpe in 2027

The incredible success and hospitality of this year’s championships have already set the wheels in motion for the future. We are currently planning an event for next April back at Jim Thorpe High School.

While the official date and registration details will be finalized and scheduled in the coming months, teams and lifters are encouraged to plan ahead for this event. Keep training hard, clear your calendars for April 2027, and get ready to bring the thunder back to the Jim Thorpe platform!