Independently owned since 1905
Independently owned since 1905
Falls junior smashes records, wins State titles
TO THE CHAMPION GO THE SPOILS - Thompson Falls junior penta-athlete Sarah Detlaff poses in front of the trophies she won earlier Saturday in Helena at the Montana Powerlifting Championships at TFHS before the school's annual prom dance, which she is all dressed up for. Truly an athlete for all seasons, Detlaff plays volleyball in the fall, participates in basketball and weight-lifting in the winter, and will now compete in both softball and track and field this spring. On top of all that, Detlaff also holds down a part-time job at the Sanders County Ledger when not busy with her other endeavors.
Before the prom even began back home that night, Thompson Falls junior Sarah Detlaff was busy breaking hearts in Helena Saturday.
A member of the Thompson Falls weightlifting team, Detlaff broke the hearts of several Helena Capital girls, and several lifting records on her way to winning the State championship in the 132 pound division at the Montana High School Weightlifting state championships. She was also named as the Best Overall in the Women's Division for her efforts, coach Jared Koskela reports.
One of seven Falls lifters making the trip to Helena, Detlaff was joined in the winners' circle by fellow Hawks Sam Ostwald (second in the Men's 165 pound division), Nathan Ostwald (second Men's 123 pounds) and Aaron Dally (third Men's 275 pounds).
Although they did not place, Zayin McLaurin, Edward Lee and Gabrielle Pallister also competed for the Hawks in Helena.
Detlaff won the Women's 132 pound class, setting new Montana High School State records in the squat (240 pounds), the deadlift (305 pounds) and the combined (the squat plus the deadlift plus the bench press, with a total weight lifted of 640 pounds).
Sam Ostwald finished second in his class with a combined lift of 1,030 pounds.
Detlaff took second place in the Women's 123 pound division last year and Ostwald was first at 148 in 2017.
As well as all the Hawk weightlifters did, Detlaff was the undisputed star of the day for the Thompson Falls contingent.
"Everyone was in awe of Sarah," Koskela said. "I knew she was capable of some great things and she sure went out and proved it in Helena."
And she broke some Helena hearts along the way, Koskela said.
"The folks running the event were not paying very close attention," he said. "They had some Helena lifters up after Sarah and announced that they were attempting to break state records that Sarah had already broken earlier in the competition.
"I was finally able to tell them that they were mistaken," he added. "After they found out they seemed a little heartbroken."
Koskela took 14 competitors to the championships in 2017 and the Hawks finished second in team scoring last year. Having the annual Thompson Falls prom fall on the same day this year may have hurt the numbers attending this time around.
"We are trying to build the program back up, we continue to recruit kids," he said. "We just want the kids to see it and be part of it, everyone had a real fun time in Helena, in spite of having to rush back to get to the prom."
In any event, the Falls athletes lifting Saturday were able to make it back to TFHS for the prom later Saturday, including Detlaff, who was the queen of the State meet if not her own prom dance
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