Hornet girls set new state records at powerlifting championships
Published 1:30 pm Monday, May 11, 2026
The White River High powerlifting team has once again positioned itself among the state’s elite programs.
This year’s state championship meet took place May 2, hosted by Northwest Christian but staged at Olympia High School. The Hornet girls, sparked by individual champs Lilly Hyatt and Darbie Pearson, placed third in the final standings; the WRHS boys, headed by 165-pound champion Carson Kruger, landed in fifth place.
The squad is headed by coach Juan Garibay.
Competing in the 181-pound weight class, Hyatt departed Olympia having claimed back-to-back state titles. She established a new state record by deadlifting 405 pounds and broke the existing state record in total combined weight (all three lifts) at 865 pounds.
Pearson emerged as a state champion for the second time. Weighing in a 104 pounds, she set a new state record with a 185-pound effort in the squat.
Aside from the trio of state champions White River had a dozen competitors wind up with Top 10 honors. Those powerlifters included:
Third place: Sydney Smith, Archer Bresnan and Kaden Pierce.
Fourth place: Logan Macias.
Fifth place: Riley Perkins.
Seventh place: Zoey Vitalich and Jack Robbins.
Eighth place: Riley Walker and Ana Anderson.
Ninth place: Leah Wolfe and Griffin Moore.
10th place: Jade Merkley.
