Weight lifting coach Hugh Fountain has once again brought home a championship as Escambia Academy (EA) boys’ team lifted their way to their second consecutive 3-A AISA state weight lifting championship.
A group of more than 50 lifters and coaches traveled to Pickens Academy in Carrollton, Alabama, February 19, to participate in the event, fielding both a boys and girls team. Fountain said that this was the first year for the girls competition, which has only three weight classes as opposed to the boys 18 classes.
“It is much harder to place as a female lifter,” Fountain said.
The EA team had seven lifters who won state titles in their divisions – Chase Bell at 81 lbs., Jackson Bonner at 98 lbs., John Sawyer at 140 lbs., Kris Brown at 158 lbs., Gordon Brooks at 175 lbs., Nolan White at 258 lbs., and James Fuqua in the super heavyweight division.
Three of the competitors also set state records. John Patrick Sawyer set his division’s squat record at 380 lbs. Kris Brown set his division’s record for dead lift at 460 lbs. James Fuqua set the super heavyweight divisions dead lift record at 575 lbs.
“Our kids have come to understand that weight lifting is important in every sport,” Fountain explained when asked about the size of his team. “Every kid who plays high school sports hopes to go to college and play athletics there. We help them understand the way to achieve that is in the weight room. From the lightest to the heaviest, every athlete can improve if they work hard enough at it.”
Shown at top are the members of the EA team from left, row one, H.T. Fountain, Kainoa Gumapac, Mason Caraway, Garrett Kirk, Xan McGhee, James Fuqua, John Patrick Sawyer, Kris Brown, Gordon Brooks, Trae Lee, Anna Catherine Sasser; row two, Cade White, Chris Brown, Yancey Odom, Trey McGhee, Tim Finklea, Megan Flowers, Makayla Spruill; row three, Gary Patrick Campbell, D.D. Brooks, Bradley Campbell, Keaton Parker, Josh Fields, Jamey Vaughn, Nate Smith, Scott Brantley, Megan Bell, Kiah Gumapac; row four, Brett Gorum, Tyler Sutton, Paolo Gorme, Drew Koons, Baylen Parker, Fred Flavors, Kevin Gumapac, Jackson Bonner; row five, Thomas Boothe, Justin Byrd, Nolan White, Chase Bell, Tenethia Wheeler, Cassidy Murphy, Morgann McDonald and Pia Gorme. Kris Brown James Fuqua John Patrick Sawyer
See more at: https://www.atmorenews.com/2014/02/26/ea-lifts-another-championship/#!prettyPhoto
