Rebels look to build on area weightlifting title
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The Haralson County High School weightlifting team claimed the GACA Area 5 championship on March 6 at Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone.
The Rebels had 10 guys finish in the top six to earn medals, while eight of those 10 qualified for state by virtue of being top-three finishers.
LaMarcus Jefferson (141-150 lbs.) and Hunter Davis (246 lbs. and up) were first in their divisions for HC, while Ryan Rigdon (151-160 lbs.) and Drake Vines (171-180 lbs.) claimed second-place finishes.
Other Rebel placers were D.J. McWhorter (140 and below, 3rd), Olie Souphanh (140 and below, 4th), C.J. Meeks (151-160 lbs., 3rd), Will Annable (161-170 lbs., 3rd), Cody Leatherwood (171-180 lbs., 3rd) and Ryan Robinson (226-245 lbs., 6th).
The lifters took part in bench press, squat and power clean events.
In addition to being something that has been a major success for the guys, HC weightlifting coach Brent Vohun said it is an awesome way of keeping the Rebels’ football players in the weight room.
“It’s a great offseason motivator,” Vohun said.
Haralson’s next step is this Saturday’s state competition at Hawkinsville High School.
And as exciting as the area championship was for his guys, Vohun said the focus quickly shifted to the state competition.
“We enjoyed the day and that weekend,” Vohun said. “And (that) Monday we went back to work.”
He suggested that his team’s even-keel approach may be its biggest asset.
“You can’t get too low with the lows,” Vohun said. “And you can’t get too high with the highs.”
Vohun said the guys have seen both ends of the spectrum between football and weightlifting and that they are not letting the success go to their heads, especially with such a big weekend coming up.
“The kids have gone back to work. They’re working hard,” Vohun said. “We’re focused on what we can control.”
It’s that type of mentality, focusing on what they can do best, that has been a great help to the Rebels, according to Vohun.
“Our kids have bought into that,” Vohun said. “And our community has bought into that.”
Vohun also noted that while he is the coach, his father, outgoing football coach Frank Vohun, and Tommy Parker, who works in the weight room, have done a great job helping the kids excel this season.
It’s been quite a process, he said, seeing the program grow from nine guys its first year. Haralson had 41 lifters compete at area this season, the fifth year of the program.
The Rebels have also gone from two state qualifiers that first year to their eight this season.
Vohun knows it will be tough this weekend going against teams like Valdosta and Washington County, which boast established programs with rich histories in weightlifting. But come 10 a.m. Saturday, Vohun is just eager to see how his guys respond.
“We’re real excited about the challenge,” Vohun said.
Also in the top five locally at the area competition was fourth-place Carrollton, which qualified four athletes for state.
Desmond Addison, Allen Walthall, Ricky Mitchell and Patrick Darby were the Trojans’ state qualifiers, while D.J. Johnson also placed.
The Rebels had 10 guys finish in the top six to earn medals, while eight of those 10 qualified for state by virtue of being top-three finishers.
LaMarcus Jefferson (141-150 lbs.) and Hunter Davis (246 lbs. and up) were first in their divisions for HC, while Ryan Rigdon (151-160 lbs.) and Drake Vines (171-180 lbs.) claimed second-place finishes.
Other Rebel placers were D.J. McWhorter (140 and below, 3rd), Olie Souphanh (140 and below, 4th), C.J. Meeks (151-160 lbs., 3rd), Will Annable (161-170 lbs., 3rd), Cody Leatherwood (171-180 lbs., 3rd) and Ryan Robinson (226-245 lbs., 6th).
The lifters took part in bench press, squat and power clean events.
In addition to being something that has been a major success for the guys, HC weightlifting coach Brent Vohun said it is an awesome way of keeping the Rebels’ football players in the weight room.
“It’s a great offseason motivator,” Vohun said.
Haralson’s next step is this Saturday’s state competition at Hawkinsville High School.
And as exciting as the area championship was for his guys, Vohun said the focus quickly shifted to the state competition.
“We enjoyed the day and that weekend,” Vohun said. “And (that) Monday we went back to work.”
He suggested that his team’s even-keel approach may be its biggest asset.
“You can’t get too low with the lows,” Vohun said. “And you can’t get too high with the highs.”
Vohun said the guys have seen both ends of the spectrum between football and weightlifting and that they are not letting the success go to their heads, especially with such a big weekend coming up.
“The kids have gone back to work. They’re working hard,” Vohun said. “We’re focused on what we can control.”
It’s that type of mentality, focusing on what they can do best, that has been a great help to the Rebels, according to Vohun.
“Our kids have bought into that,” Vohun said. “And our community has bought into that.”
Vohun also noted that while he is the coach, his father, outgoing football coach Frank Vohun, and Tommy Parker, who works in the weight room, have done a great job helping the kids excel this season.
It’s been quite a process, he said, seeing the program grow from nine guys its first year. Haralson had 41 lifters compete at area this season, the fifth year of the program.
The Rebels have also gone from two state qualifiers that first year to their eight this season.
Vohun knows it will be tough this weekend going against teams like Valdosta and Washington County, which boast established programs with rich histories in weightlifting. But come 10 a.m. Saturday, Vohun is just eager to see how his guys respond.
“We’re real excited about the challenge,” Vohun said.
Also in the top five locally at the area competition was fourth-place Carrollton, which qualified four athletes for state.
Desmond Addison, Allen Walthall, Ricky Mitchell and Patrick Darby were the Trojans’ state qualifiers, while D.J. Johnson also placed.
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