Home > Sports > Sochor's swan song? | web-posted Sunday, March 16, 2008
Sochor's swan song?
Centura Highıs Ryan Kerby bench presses 235 pounds to win the event in the 165-pound class Saturday during Class C state powerlifting championships in Doniphan. Kerby went on to win the 165-pound class overall title.
By Terry Douglass
terry.douglass@theindependent.com
Centura Highıs Ryan Kerby bench presses 235 pounds to win the event in the 165-pound class Saturday during Class C state powerlifting championships in Doniphan. Kerby went on to win the 165-pound class overall title.
Independent/Barrett Stinson
Doniphan/Trumbullıs Sam Nelson was named the heavyweight lifter of the meet Saturday during the Class C state powerlifting championships in Doniphan. Nelson bench pressed 340 pounds after setting a new state record by squatting 550 pounds, and won the 275-pound class after a dead lift of 500 pounds.
Click Thumbnails to View
DONIPHAN The man whose name has been synonymous with the Class C State Powerlifting Championships for more than 30 years might be stepping aside.
Doniphan-Trumbull coach Dave Sochor, who has been heavily involved in the sport here since 1975, said Saturday's state meet at Doniphan-Trumbull High School will likely be his last.
"I know I've said that for many years, but it looks pretty much like that because I'm thinking about moving on, doing some other things and retiring," Sochor said. "So this is probably it."
The operative word there is "probably."
"You never know," Doniphan-Trumbull powerlifter Sam Nelson said. "Coach Sochor loves this sport so much and he's been really important to this sport around here. It would be really hard to imagine it without him."
Sochor's hesitation to say he's 100 percent finished with the Class C State Powerlifting Championships likely stems from his desire to make sure the future of the event is in good hands. He said Doniphan has been an ideal site in the past because of the school's facilities and the proximity between Grand Island and Hastings, which provides adequate entertainment and lodging options for the competitors and their families.
There's also the volunteers, who Sochor said have hosting the event down to a science.
"That's been the reason I've kept it here for so long is that we just seemed to be the logical pick because of the facilities and especially because of the judges and all the help," Sochor said. "They're almost all people that we've had for several years and they just keep coming back. I really appreciate that and they're really loyal."
In most cases, lifting weights has been viewed as a price athletes have to pay to be successful. Sochor's thought was why not add competition to the mix?
"The big thing is that lifting, by itself, is pretty mundane and boring," Sochor said. "But if you can put a competitive edge on it like state powerlifting, it really seems to bring a little more effort out of the kids. They enjoy it more."
At Doniphan-Trumbull, Sochor said the approach has been to integrate lifting with the regular athletic programs to increase performance and help prevent injuries.
"But if kids see something like this, they might realize that if they can take their lifting to the next level," Sochor said.
Nelson, who won the 275-pound weight class and was also named the state meet's outstanding heavyweight lifter, said he's benefited greatly from lifting while participating in football and wrestling for the Cardinals.
"It's been a good year for me in sports because I've gotten stronger from lifting," Nelson said. "I really like it. Once you get going, it's kind of an addiction. I want to get into the weight room every day just to see how far I can take it and how strong I can get."
Nelson said there are many benefits.
"It helps you not only with your strength, but your speed, too," Nelson said. "Confidence is also a big factor."
For Sochor, seeing young athletes like Nelson make significant gains is what has kept him involved with powerlifting for so long.
"I love seeing the way those kids' eyes light up and the way their parents react when that kid makes an outstanding lift or pulls more weight than they've ever pulled before or benched more then they ever have before," Sochor said. "There's just an excitement about that like with any other competitive sport, but it seems like when you've got that arena full, that weight is making noise and hitting the floor, the chalk is flying around and all the parents and teammates are cheering it is a little different than other sports.
"It's a different atmosphere altogether."
Class C State Powerlifting
At Doniphan
BOYS
Team Standings
Douglas County West 34, Doniphan-Trumbull 33, Centura 31, Grand Island Central Catholic 30, Pierce 25, Garden County 4, Blue Hill 2.
;){kind=small}
;)
