Noonan, headed to ESU, wins weight class at Powerlifting Classic
By Michael Ashford (Contact)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Over the past four years, Emporia High senior Edd Noonan often used his strength to power over, around and past defenders on the football field as one of the best running backs the EHS football program has ever had.
But opportunities like Saturday’s Emporia Powerlifting Classic at Emporia High School are a chance for him to showcase his strength in a different way while continuing to increase his power.
Why?
For one, because he enjoys it, and two, he knows he’s got to get stronger.
Noonan has committed to play football at Emporia State and will sign with the Hornets on Wednesday, the first day of the national signing period.
Though one of the more powerful runners in Kansas by the time he was a senior, ESU head coach Garin Higgins has told Noonan there is more room to grow physically, and so the Powerlifting Classic serves as a good barometer for Noonan’s progress.
“It lets me know where I’m at with my lifts,” Noonan said. “I’m going to go ahead and redshirt my first year so I can get stronger.”
Noonan, who rushed for 1,405 yards and 14 touchdowns on 235 carries this past fall to help the Spartans to a 6-4 record and a berth in the Class 6A State playoffs, said ESU began recruiting him during this past football season. Though he looked at a variety of junior colleges, Noonan said the opportunity to play at the Division-II level — as well as the opportunity to play in Higgins’ wide-open offense — was far too good of an opportunity to pass on.
“I went and looked at a lot of JUCOs, and a lot of them were pretty nice, but Emporia State, their program’s probably going to be on the rise and it’s here in town, so I just ended up going with them,” he said. “Higgins told me not to worry about my height. He said all of his backs are shotgun-type backs that aren’t real big, and he said the offense would work well with me and that I’d fit in real well with the way they run their offense.”
Noonan’s progress in the weight room was evidenced on Saturday, as he finished first in the 181-pound weight division, recording the highest bench (290 pounds) and power clean (300) totals while also squatting 375 pounds.
“It’s fun as long as you get your lifts,” Noonan said. “Then, it can be kind of not fun.”
This year, Noonan was one of a record 372 entrants for the Powerlifting Classic, which was first introduced six years ago by Randy Wells, the track and field coach and a teacher at Emporia High and the EHS Power Club sponsor.
“It’s really grown over the years,” Wells said, “and it just keeps getting bigger every year.”
Saturday’s Classic, run solely on volunteer help — about 90 EHS staff, faculty and students, as well as community members gave their time — took place in the EHS gymnasium, and though the gym was packed from wall to wall with weightlifters, coaches, parents and other onlookers, Wells said things ran fairly smoothly.
“Overall, the meet went real well,” he said. “When we came up with this about six years ago, we thought, ‘Well, let’s just start our own little meet.’ It’s turned into a pretty nice little project.”
Many other EHS and area students joined Noonan in the competition, with several finishing in the top 5 of their respective weight divisions.
In the men’s 132-pound division, Northern Heights’ Caleb Pate finished second, recording the highest bench (195) and clean (210) totals, while Emporia’s Kyle Goodwin finished third in the weight class.
At 152 pounds, Matt Sedgwick of EHS placed third while Jesse Miller took sixth.
Kade Neilson of Lyndon finished third at 181 pounds, while schoolmate Quinn Kirsop placed fifth at 198 pounds. In the power weight division, Emporia’s Craig Turner placed second, squatting 480 pounds, benching 280 and cleaning 250.
In the junior division, Northern Heights’ Derek Kellison placed first in the 152-pound weight class, recording the highest totals in the squat (425) and bench (315).
Emporia Powerlifting Classic
High School Men’s DIvision
132
Athlete Squat Bench Clean
2. Caleb Pate, No. Hts 285 195 210
3. Kyle Goodwin, EHS 300 175 210
152
3. Matt Sedgwick, EHS 315 230 230
6. Jesse Miller, EHS 280 205 200
10. Chris Paluski, Lyn 235 210 180
160
6. Josh Birks, Lyn 280 225 255
11. Jacob Goodwin, No. Hts 270 0 255
166
7. Corey Bacon, EHS 320 215 225
181
1. Edd Noonan, EHS 375 290 300
3. Kade Neilson, Lyn 415 240 230
198
5. Quinn Kirsop, Lyn 370 255 285
12. Sheldon Patton, EHS 370 225 240
220
6. Erik Pracht, No. Hts 335 245 225
Pwr. Wght.
2. Craig Turner, EHS 480 280 250
15. Sergio Vasquez, EHS 420 240 200
16. Darrell Hickel, Lyn 250 245 215
26. Stephen Nuessen, No. Hts 0 0 265
Comments
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Posted by redneckgirl22 (anonymous) on February 5, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So I'm just you know wondering why there is nothing written in this article about the girls who lifted at that meet this weekend? Because I'm pretty sure that I worked my butt off at that meet and got 1st place and set a nice little record of my own. It's nice how its only about the boys.. It's really actually disappointing to see this, this is why there aren't many girls lifting, because "it's a guys sport" well I have news for you, I can lift right along with those guys.
Posted by momoftwo (anonymous) on February 5, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU & ALL THE OTHER WOMEN COMPETITORS!!! What a shame the sports writer didn't think to include your results in his story. I'm not always thrilled with the choices the sports writers make & usually we see responses about how few of them there are & how they can't be in so many places at once. Understood by all of us. However, can I assume both the mens & womens competitions were held at the same place on the same day? If so, no excuse for the sports writer to leave you all out. Again - CONGRATS!
Posted by mashford (Michael Ashford) on February 5, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was not provided the girls results by the school, therefore, I had no way of getting them in the paper.
Michael Ashford
Sports editor
Posted by mashford (Michael Ashford) on February 5, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Also, if you would like to discuss this with me, feel free to call me at (620) 342-4841 ext. 207
Michael Ashford
Sports editor
Posted by redneckgirl22 (anonymous) on February 7, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well go figure...
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