The 2021 Ionia Powerlifting season, like all sports, has been very different. Our season was much shorter, practicing and competing in masks, and only 1 meet, the State Meet. In an effort to have a season and meet all the requirements, we were only allowed to have the athletes who qualified for the State meet last year compete this year, with the exception of a very few Wildcard spots. Ionia was able to send 18 athletes to the State meet. With all that has happened to them in the last year and all that has been taken away, it was truly a gift to have a season at all. I am very proud of this team for their hard work and fortitude to push themselves forward not knowing if they would even be allowed to compete.

In the Varsity Boys State Meet,  Zane Hensley placed 4th in the 165 pound weight class.  Cole Listerman also lifted in the 165 pound weight class.  In the 181 pound weight class, Sam Friedrich took first place to be a State Champion.  Emmanuel Velasco was 6th in the 194 pound weight class. In the 220 pound weight class, Asa Randall finished 6th.  Zach Shortz finished 7th in the 242 pound class, and Brendan Raymond came in 8th in the 275 pound class.  

In the JV State Meet, Paul Meyer was the only Bulldog to compete.  He came in 4th in the 207 pound weight class.