Hawks bring home two golds, one bronze
Iowa Park took home two gold medals Saturday from the 2008 THSPA State Powerlifting Meet in Abilene, with senior J.C. Pleva and sophomore Justin Thacker winning state titles. Junior Caleb Watson took the bronze in his weight class.

Two state champions in one year is a first for the IPHS program under the direction of Coach Dusty Rafferty and his assistant, Coach Gary Green.

Iowa Park just missed taking home the state team title, finishing in second with 17 points behind Kennedale’s 21 (Kennedale had six lifters competing). Palacios finished in third with 12 points, Burkburnett fourth with 10, and Port Isabel fifth with nine.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with Justin for winning as a sophomore,” said Rafferty. “That’s almost unheard of. And I’m as pleased for J.C. Each of them did everything I told them to do. I’m proud of all my team’s efforts.”

Pleva was more than happy for winning the state title, after missing last year’s state meet for disciplinary reasons, and being the top qualifier in the 181-pound class both years.

The senior Hawk totalled 1,445 pounds in the three events (squat, bench press and deadlift), well under his regional qualifying total of 1,500 pounds.

“It feels really good,” Pleva said of the win. “It feels like a weight was lifted off my shoulders a little bit. I’ve been waiting for two years now. It feels really good. My confidence isback. I like being number one.”

Pleva finished ahead of White Oak’s Ethan Biemer, and bronze medalist Clayton Kendrick of Van.

Thacker cooly collected his first state title with a total lift of 1,635, winning the gold by five pounds over Josh Luna of Ingleside in the 275-pound class. Robert Pyssen of Pleasanton took third.

“It’s a really good feeling,” Thacker said of the win. “You go in and see everybody and think ‘man, that kid’s big!’ ... then find out you are the first place. All the seniors’ jaws dropped when you tell them you are a sophomore. It’s just fun to be there, and fun to win state.”

Watson finished in third in the 220-pound class with a total lift of 1,520 pounds. Aaron Buckley of Palacios was first with 1,585, and Kennedale’s R.B. Neely second with a total lift of 1,560.

When Thacker was asked what he’d like to achieve in his final two years at IPHS, he said, “Probably to beat Heath Gholson’s records here, my own personal records every meet, and beat the state records. Just have my name up there.”

And what state records would he like to set?

“Record for the squat is 780,” he said. “I’d like to beat that. 500-pound bench, definitely. It’s at 450 now. Then deadlift 710.”