Jacob Dimond / jake@yelmonline.com
Yelm High School’s powerlifting program capped off a highly successful 2024-25 season with its boys team taking second place and its girls team finishing third overall at the Washington State Powerlifting Championships on Saturday, May 3, at Olympia High School.
Yelm powerlifting’s head coach, Thomas Hoghaug, told the Nisqually Valley News that the state competition was a rollercoaster, but ultimately well worth the dramatic ride in the end.
“We had a lot of ups and a lot of downs,” Hoghaug said. “As a guys team, we had some kids miss weight and some guys drop out at the last second, which affected us. But then Tootsie (Kaynen Barger) upset everyone and won his state title. Mason (Embrey) did what I knew he was going to do and won his state title. Luke Brown won the state title, too. The girls went from having four or five athletes compete at state to having almost 20-plus girls. We took third place. There were ups and downs, but it was a good year.”
As a team, Yelm powerlifting sent 43 total athletes to the state competition, including 22 boys and 21 girls.
The team’s top finishers included the senior Embrey (165 pounds), the junior Brown (181 pounds) and the freshman Barger (unlimited) each taking home championships. Two Tornados earned second place finishes for their respective teams, Sage Rough in the girls 105-pound bracket and junior Sam DeJiacomo in his 198-pound weight class. Senior Emma Brewer also earned a third place finish in the girls 123-pound bracket. In the 148 pound girls division, senior Tornados Sam Blank and Triniti Hickman each finished in second and third place, respectively. Freshman Rebecca Morales also found herself finishing in third place in the 181 pound girls division.
“Considering three years ago that we had one lifter at state, we had 23 last year, to 43 this year — I’d say it’s been a fun ride and I never thought I’d be here right now,” Hoghaug said. “We have struck a nerve in Yelm that kids really dig lifting. I knew we were always a big lifting school, but it’s really showing now through powerlifting.”
Following the success at the state powerlifting competition, Hoghaug told the Nisqually Valley News that he’ll shift his focus to rebuilding the program for next season. His team will graduate around 20 athletes, and Hoghaug hopes to see a similar nucleus of leadership and accountability developed by next year’s team.
“We have a pretty big senior class graduating. We’ll be trying to rebuild that core again, and it might be a challenge. Kids are excited about nationals next year, too. How do we get there is going to be a logistical issue,” Hoghaug said. “Having the kids go to nationals this year and everyone got to see them and got excited.”
He added that his athletes’ totals at the state competition could’ve led to qualification for next season’s national powerlifting competition. Hoghaug noted that a majority of his team have already punched their tickets for the event.
Hoghaug also highlighted two of his departing seniors, Liberty Manley and Embrey, for their leadership within the program and their dedication in perfecting their craft and setting a good example for their younger teammates.
“Liberty Manley, she was my one girl who went to nationals this year. She set the tone for our girls. She was a big inspiration to a lot of our girls, and I know a lot of them are now excited about powerlifting and nationals because of everything Liberty did. I’m very appreciative of her, because she’s been a big help,” Hoghaug said. “Powerlifting is a unique sport. Everyone wants you to get that lift up, even people you’re competing against. Mason Embrey got the state record, and the first people excited for him were people he was competing against. It’s kind of a fun atmosphere for everyone, and it’s a really unique sport. I hope it grows more.”
He’s also hopeful to see the girls team continue to develop and grow in size, and he believes that the team is on the right track for the 2025-26 season and beyond.
“We have a lot of young girls who are excited about the program. Coach Cayla Gable was a huge part in getting recruitment going, and getting girls interested in powerlifting,” he said.
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