Sweet Home to host powerlifting championships

Many of the area's top high school powerlifters will converge at Sweet Home High School for the 36th annual New York State Powerlifting Championships.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 17 at Sweet Home, 1901 Sweet Home Road, Amherst.

Between 150 to 200 athletes are scheduled to appear. Schools who have already committed to appear include last year's champion, North Tonawanda, Sweet Home, who placed third, Kenmore East, Niagara Wheatfield, Liverpool of Section III (Syracuse), Churchville-Chili and Letchworth of Section V (Rochester).

Weigh-ins will be held from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. World record powerlifter Paul Childress, who competed in the event in the late 1980's, will perform proper lifting techniques.

Athletes will have three attempts to squat, bench press, and dead lift. The top three attempts from each event are added for a total score.

Money raised will go towards the Sweet Home track team and the school's fitness center. Sponsors include Dick's Sporting Goods, Coca-Cola, Pepsi,Upstate Milk, and Manhattan Bagel.