Burnet’s Rygaard qualifies for powerlifting state meet

CAPTION: Burnet senior powerlifters Brady Rygaard (left) and Jack VanAartsen are all smiles as they wear their regional medals. Courtesy photo

Burnet High School senior Brady Rygaard is competing at the Class 4A powerlifting state meet after hitting the qualifying standard at the Region 2, Division 2 meet March 9.

Rygaard lifted a total of 1,380 pounds to finish third in the 165-pound weight class.

“He was 80 pounds over the qualifying total,” head coach Tyler McIntosh said. “The total he had to hit was 1,300. We knew he could hit that total. He had gone over it a couple of times.”

The key for Rygaard, the coach said, was how he performed in his first lift of the meet — the squat.

“Once we got the opening in the squat, we knew we could go after a personal record,” he said. “That record ended up at 515.”

That empowered him to strive for more, McIntosh said, noting the plan was to hit the opening total and then go after the personal records. The Bulldog attacked the bench press the same way and set a new personal record of 365 pounds.

Then Rygaard went to the deadlift. He hit the opening weight of 500 pounds and decided to go for the personal record but missed.

“We knew he couldn’t catch the guy in front of him and the guy behind him couldn’t get him,” McIntosh said.

Rygaard may be the only Bulldog to advance, tut the coach pointed out several lifters set new personal records.

One was senior Jack Van Aartsen in the 220-pound weight division, who finished fifth with a total weight lifted of 1,415 pounds.

“That was a tough weight class,” McIntosh said. “The top four dudes hit the totals to get out. (Van Aartsen) found 30 pounds in the squat and 25 pounds on the bench. He had a chance at (the deadlift), but he didn’t get it. He gave it a good go. It was on the deadlift and all three judges saw it the same way.”

He also noted that senior Luke Hudgins was ill during the meet and decided to compete through it. As they were finishing the bench press, Hudgins went to McIntosh and told him that he didn’t think he could continue. The coach commended the athlete for knowing his body and for putting his well being first.

McIntosh remained upbeat about the results, pointing out the Bulldogs did what the coaches asked. With seven lifters and two alternates making the trip and eight competing, McIntosh said there’s plenty to be proud of.

“We took eight boys — that’s the most we’ve ever had since I’ve been here,” he said. “Almost all set a personal record. ‘Let’s go get our numbers and go better our totals and let the chips fall.’ Almost everyone did that. Coach (Zane) Hicks and I are incredibly proud of our boys and their growth as a team and individual lifters throughout the year. We are excited to see what the future holds for these underclassmen, and we are grateful for the foundation laid by our senior lifters for the future of our program.”

Rygaard will compete at state meet March 22 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.

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RESULTS

Region 2, Division 2 (squat-bench press-deadlift–total)

114 pounds — 10, Andrew Hudgins, 225-130-205–560; 123 pounds — 6, Tommy Butler, 345-165-320–830; 165 pounds — 3, Brady Rygaard, 515-365-500–1,380, 7, Adler Goehring, 415-235-440-1,090; 198 pounds — SC, Luke Hudgins, 500-315-0–0; 220 pounds — 5, Jack Van Aartsen, 550-385-480–1,415; 275 pounds — 6, Brandon Westbrook, 520-330-470–1,320; 308 pounds — 10, Johnny Charron, 475-295-455–1,225