By ERIN BASS

Staff Writer

Emilio Saldierna, powerlifting head coach and a former lifter, is excited about the 2004-05 season and working with the team.

For the past few months, it's looked as though Saldierna can expect another national title.

"I am really optimistic about this year's team," Saldierna said. "This is the best women's team I have seen in the five years."

In September, the team placed second overall at the International Powerlifting Federation World Junior and Sub-Junior Championships in Pretoria, South Africa.

Six lifters placed within the top three rankings in their weight class.

Tina Carder, a sophomore animal science major, placed first in the 97 lb. weight class; Codi Grubbs, who graduated this summer, placed second in the 132 lb. weight class; and Kimmie Everett, a junior kinesiology and health promotions major, took second place in the 165 lb. weight class.

Josh Chovanec, a junior kinesiology major, placed third in the super heavy weight class; Mike Hafenbrack, a sophomore biology major, took second place in the 123 lb. weight class; and Jeremiah Welch, a senior computer science major, placed third in the 114 lb. weight class.

Each lifter competed against at least five other lifters to place.

Carder, with a 97-lb. frame, bench-pressed 160 lbs. to win her weight class.

Carder said the biggest misconception about powerlifting is that it coincides with steroids, which is not true because of required drug testing.

Carder also said powerlifting should also be considered a sport because it has the same attributes as any other athletic program on campus.

"Competition, training, commitment and pushing yourself are all characteristics of powerlifting and any other sport," Carder said.

But it is considered a club sport and is funded through the Maxie Lambright Intramural Sports Center, fund-raisers and the lifters themselves.

Nov. 6-7, 22 members of the 38- member team competed in the Collegiate Cup in Baton Rouge.

Saldierna was pleasantly surprised at the placement results.

"I was very pleased with the overall effort and placement," Saldierna said. "I am also very excited about [Collegiate] Nationals."

The team placed second overall, along with five individual wins in the lifters' respective weight classes.

Erica Ellis, a freshman biomedical engineering major, placed first in the 97 lb. weight class; Stephanie Williams, a freshman basic and career studies major, placed first in the 114 lb. weight class; and David Summers, a freshman basic and career studies major, placed first in the 114 lb. weight class.

Lawrence James, a freshman developmental engineering major, placed first in the 198 lb. weight class; and Jesus Arevalo, a freshman kinesiology and health promotions major, placed first in the super heavy weight class.

This is Summers' first year lifting on the collegiate level, and he said he is enjoying every minute of it.

"I am a very competitive person," Summers said. "I strive to be the best and that is the only thing I will accept."

Louisiana State UniversityÐ Baton Rouge, Nicholls State University-Thibodaux and University of LouisianaÐMonroe also competed in the meet this past weekend.