HHS cheerleaders benefit from power lifting

State competition attracts 50 athletes

By: John E. Powers
   
   Hillsborough High School sophomore cheerleaders Samantha Mucha and Cassie Sperber have found a way to enhance their game.
   The two youngsters have taken on competitive weight training and are excelling at it. Mucha and Sperber were both gold medalists at last weekend’s New Jersey State Powerlifting championships at Hillsborough High.
   Mucha took first and recorded 10 state records and Sperber won best female lifter, registering five state records.
   "It’s a good, drug free sport," said Sperber, who cheers in the fall and winter. "It’s a great way to stay in shape for cheering. Cheerleading is a lot of work with the gymnastics and tumbling that go with it. Weightlifting is a great way to stay in shape."
   Sperber and Mucha are looking forward to competing in other tournaments.
   "Actually, weightlifting helps a lot," Mucha said. "We’re doing things like lifting girls and tumbling and gymnastic routines. It keeps me in shape. I think it’s fun when people find out and they think it’s interesting what we’re doing. We’re looking for other meets. I’d like to go to more. It’s a lot of fun."
   "Hopefully more girls will see the benefit of weightlifting," said Jim McFarland, the Hillsborough High weightlifting coach, who directed the meet along with Mark Salandra.
   The event had each competitor participating in three different traditional lifting movements – the squat, bench press and dead lift. Sperber won best lifter as a female, with Absegami junior Andrew Choi taking first in the boys’ category.
   The following are Hillsborough High School participants with their individual weight class awards and the total of all three best lifts of the bench, squat, and dead lift combined"
   Mucha (147.50 kgs.), Sperber (235 kgs.), Jackie DiMaria second place (165 kgs.), Nana Prempeh first place (365 kgs.), Justin Smith third place (355 kgs.), Jorge Viquez second place (402.50), James Meisterich fourth place (240 kgs.), Joe Mychalczuk first place (372 kgs.), Andrew Austin second place (342.50), Don Mangan third place (332.50 kgs.), Steve Montano first place (435 kgs.) and Morgan Geoghegan second place (350 kgs.).
   Robin Friedman, a 2006 Hillsborough High graduate and former Raider pole vaulter and gymnast, competed as an extra lifter and qualified for the collegiate national power lifting competition. She achieved her goal of lifting a total of 200 kgs.
   "A lot of our kids got personal bests," McFarland said. "The kids are seeing the benefit of using the weight room."
   McFarland said there were about 50 competitors.
   "They did a nice job, they have really come a long way," he said.
   McFarland said he appreciated the support of The Body Shop Total Fitness, and loader/spotters Andrew Hess, Tyler Metauro and Chris Rick. He also thanked Catered Affair and Angelo’s Pizzeria of Hillsborough, the Hillsborough Township PBA, Belle Mead Physical Therapy and Rep’s Fitness of Somerville.