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HS POWERLIFTING: Abington Heights girls, Riverside boys capture state titles
TL;DR
Abington Heights girls won their third consecutive state title at the 2026 Pennsylvania High School Powerlifting Championships, while Riverside boys secured the Small School title. Ava Lawless was named outstanding lifter after winning her weight class with a total of 835 pounds.
Key points
- Abington Heights girls won their third consecutive state title
- Riverside boys won the Small School team title
- Ava Lawless was named outstanding lifter
- Lawless lifted a total of 835 pounds
- Sophia Evans won the 63-kilogram class with 610 pounds
Abington HeightsRiverside2026 Pennsylvania High School Powerlifting ChampionshipsAva Lawless
Abington Heights female athletes captured the team championship for the third consecutive year at the 2026 Pennsylvania High School Powerlifting Championships at Jim Thorpe High School last weekend.
Riverside boys lifters won the Small School team title, and the girls team finished second. Abington Heights boys finished second to Jim Thorpe in the Big School team standings.
Abington Heights’ Ava Lawless won the 69-kilogram weight class in the Women’s Raw Varsity competition and was awarded the outstanding lifter at the event. Lawless had a squat of 320 pounds, a bench press of 155 pounds and a deadlift of 360 pounds for a winning total of 835.
Sophia Evans won the 63-kilogram class with a total of 610 pounds (245-105-260), and Charlotte Manning won the 84-kilogram class with a total of 550 pounds (200-120-230) for the Lady Comets.
Abington Heights’ Gabriela Scialpi finished third (210-105-245 – 560), and Riverside’s Raissa Mendes was fourth (155-80-225 – 460) in the 63-kilogram competition. Abington Heights’ Deja Duckworth (190-110-230 – 520) finished second to Lawless in the 69-kilogram class.
Pittston Area’s Gisseliz Martinez captured the title in the 52-kilogram class with a total of 600 pounds (220-125-245). Abington Heights’ Mariah Eve McClendon ( 215-120-245 – 580) finished second.
Riverside’s Zakijah Jones (135-65-200 – 400) finished second at 57 kilograms, and teammates Dilila Arroyo (175-80-225 – 480) finished second and Miranda Gallone (100-60-175 – 335) was third in the 84+ class.
Pittston Area’s Ella Rosiak (160-120-275 – 555) finished third in the 76-kilogram class.
Abington Heights had two champions in the Men’s Raw Varsity competition. Michael Gunnels won the 53-kilogram class with a total of 685 pounds (250-150-285). Bradley Newman won the 59-kilogram class with a total of 865 pounds (290-200-375).
Pittston Area’s Troy Fratacangeli finished second in the 66-kilogram class with a total of 1,035 pounds, and Abington Heights’ Adam Dickson (305-250-375 – 930) was fourth in the 74-kilogram class and Colin Knott (435-250-500 – 1,185) was fourth at 83 kilograms.
Riverside’s top finisher in the varsity competition was Adrian Escobales (200-215-350 – 765), who finished seventh in the 93-kilogram class. Teammate Jasiel Sanchez Echevarria (210-160-270 – 640) was 10th at 66 kilograms.
There were also competitions for Junior Varsity and Youth (Junior High) athletes.
Pittston Area’s Kara Mancini (220-115-270 – 605) won the 57-kilogram class in the Junior Varsity competition. Abington Heights’ Pyper Archibald, 47-kilogram class (105-50-135 – 290), Sarah Staples, 57-kilogram class (200-90-255 – 555), and Mackenzie Jenkins, 63-kilogram class (225-100-280 – 605), won titles in the Youth (Junior High) competition.
Abington Heights’ Reece Stanton, 53-kilogram class (240-180-315 – 735), and Aris Galanakis, 66-kilogram class (290-195-325 – 810), Riverside’s Charlie Anstett, 83-kilogram class (475-296-505 – 1,275), and Aidan Taylor, 120-kilogram class (530-265-540 – 1,335), were champions in the Junior Varsity competition.
Q&A
Who won the girls team championship at the 2026 Pennsylvania High School Powerlifting Championships?
Abington Heights girls won the team championship for the third consecutive year.
What were Ava Lawless's results in the 69-kilogram weight class?
Ava Lawless had a squat of 320 pounds, a bench press of 155 pounds, and a deadlift of 360 pounds, totaling 835 pounds.
Which team finished second to Abington Heights in the boys Big School standings?
Abington Heights boys finished second to Jim Thorpe in the Big School team standings.
What were the total lifts for Sophia Evans in the 63-kilogram class?
Sophia Evans won the 63-kilogram class with a total lift of 610 pounds.