By SCOTT D. JOHNSTON

Eight North Beach High students came back from the AAU Powerlifting World Championships in Laughlin, Nevada, last week proudly wearing gold medals earned at the top of the strength sport.

Sponsored by the North Beach Eagles Aeire, the students all won gold medals for the combined total of their best lifts in each of three classes, squat, bench press and dead lift. Their names, weight classes and year in school are:

Skyler Duncan, 97 lbs., senior; Robert Oban, 114 lbs., sophomore, Maryah Winser, 148 lbs., freshman; Lettie Carcaise, 165 lbs., sophomore; Alexis Potter, 181 lbs., senior; Isabel Harnagy, 198 lbs., junior; Arianna Salmond, 220+ lbs., junior; Maggie McPherson, 220+ lbs., freshman. McPherson also set two world records, in squat and dead lift.

Oban said that “to see other people lift was like opening new doors for me. Being able to participate in a place like that made me see my accomplishments in a new way.”

Harnagy commented, “It was an amazing experience competing and meeting lifters from all over the world.” Winser said she loved it and “I’m gonna try to go again next year.”

The Hyaks powerlifters will start practice this November, and participate in their first meet in January. North Beach High School will host the Washington State Powerlifting Meet on May 4, 2019.