Abington Heights female athletes captured the team championship for the third consecutive year at the 2026 Pennsylvania High School Powerlifting Championships at Jim Thorpe High School last weekend.

Riverside boys lifters won the Small School team title, and the girls team finished second. Abington Heights boys finished second to Jim Thorpe in the Big School team standings.

Abington Heights’ Ava Lawless won the 69-kilogram weight class in the Women’s Raw Varsity competition and was awarded the outstanding lifter at the event. Lawless had a squat of 320 pounds, a bench press of 155 pounds and a deadlift of 360 pounds for a winning total of 835.

Sophia Evans won the 63-kilogram class with a total of 610 pounds (245-105-260), and Charlotte Manning won the 84-kilogram class with a total of 550 pounds (200-120-230) for the Lady Comets.

Abington Heights’ Gabriela Scialpi finished third (210-105-245 – 560), and Riverside’s Raissa Mendes was fourth (155-80-225 – 460) in the 63-kilogram competition. Abington Heights’ Deja Duckworth (190-110-230 – 520) finished second to Lawless in the 69-kilogram class.

Pittston Area’s Gisseliz Martinez captured the title in the 52-kilogram class with a total of 600 pounds (220-125-245). Abington Heights’ Mariah Eve McClendon ( 215-120-245 – 580) finished second.

Riverside’s Zakijah Jones (135-65-200 – 400) finished second at 57 kilograms, and teammates Dilila Arroyo (175-80-225 – 480) finished second and Miranda Gallone (100-60-175 – 335) was third in the 84+ class.

Pittston Area’s Ella Rosiak (160-120-275 – 555) finished third in the 76-kilogram class.

Abington Heights had two champions in the Men’s Raw Varsity competition. Michael Gunnels won the 53-kilogram class with a total of 685 pounds (250-150-285). Bradley Newman won the 59-kilogram class with a total of 865 pounds (290-200-375).

Pittston Area’s Troy Fratacangeli finished second in the 66-kilogram class with a total of 1,035 pounds, and Abington Heights’ Adam Dickson (305-250-375 – 930) was fourth in the 74-kilogram class and Colin Knott (435-250-500 – 1,185) was fourth at 83 kilograms.

Riverside’s top finisher in the varsity competition was Adrian Escobales (200-215-350 – 765), who finished seventh in the 93-kilogram class. Teammate Jasiel Sanchez Echevarria (210-160-270 – 640) was 10th at 66 kilograms.

There were also competitions for Junior Varsity and Youth (Junior High) athletes.

Pittston Area’s Kara Mancini (220-115-270 – 605) won the 57-kilogram class in the Junior Varsity competition. Abington Heights’ Pyper Archibald, 47-kilogram class (105-50-135 – 290), Sarah Staples, 57-kilogram class (200-90-255 – 555), and Mackenzie Jenkins, 63-kilogram class (225-100-280 – 605), won titles in the Youth (Junior High) competition.

Abington Heights’ Reece Stanton, 53-kilogram class (240-180-315 – 735), and Aris Galanakis, 66-kilogram class (290-195-325 – 810), Riverside’s Charlie Anstett, 83-kilogram class (475-296-505 – 1,275), and Aidan Taylor, 120-kilogram class (530-265-540 – 1,335), were champions in the Junior Varsity competition.

In the Youth (Junior High) competition, Pittston Area’s Brady Warnek, 66-kilogram class (250-155-305 – 710), and Colin Ankenbrand, 93-kilogram class (205-135-285 – 625), and Abington Heights’ Edward Manning, 74-kilogram class (315-155-310 – 780), and Justin Lezinski, 105-kilogram class (360-220-400 – 980) were champions.

52 kg: 1-Gisseliz Martinez Pittston Area 220-135-245 – 600, 2-Mariah Eve McClendon Abington Heights 215-120-245 – 580; 57 kg: 2-Zakijah Jones Riverside 135-65-200 – 400; 63 kg: 1-Sophia Evans Abington Heights 245-105-260 – 610, 3-Gabriela Scialpi Abington Heights 210-105-245 – 560, 4-Raissa Mendes Riverside 155-80-225 – 460; 69 kg: 1-Ava Lawless Abington Heights 320-155-360 – 835, 2-Deja Duckworth Abington Heights 190-110-230 – 520; 76 kg: 3-Ella Rosiak Pittston Area 160-120-275 – 555; 84 kg: 1-Charlotte Manning Abington Heights 200-120-230 – 550; 84+ kg: 2-Dilila Arroyo Riverside 175-80-225 – 480, 3-Miranda Gallone Riverside 100-60-175 – 335.

57 kg: 1-Kara Mancini Pittston Area 220-115-270 – 605, 3-Abigail Lawless Abington Heights 180-95-205 – 480, 4-Arielle Andrade Riverside 155-70-230 – 455, 5 – Adrianna Reeder Pittston Area 95-240 – No total; 63 kg: 2-Piper Paterson Abington Heights 145-75-210 – 430, 3-Dylann Foster Riverside 125-65-185 – 375; 69 kg: 2-Aja Andrews Riverside 150-95-200 – 445, Jacqueline Tavares Riverside 80-225 – No total.

47 kg: 1-Pyper Archibald Abington Heights 105-50-135 – 290; 57 kg: 1-Sarah Staples Abington Heights 200-90-255 – 555, 2-Gwendolyn Jenkins Abington Heights 135-80-225 – 440; 63 kg: 1-Mackenzie Jenkins Abington Heights 225-100-280 – 605; 84 kg: 2-Quinn Manning Abington Heights 185-115-225 – 525.

53 kg: 1-Michael Gunnels Abington Heights 250-150-285 – 685; 59 kg: 1-Bradley Newman Abington Heights 290-200-375 – 865; 66 kg: 2-Troy Fratacangeli Pittston Area 360-215-460 – 1035, 10-Jasiel Sanchez Echevarria Riverside 210-160-270 – 640; 74 kg: 4-Adam Dickson Abington Heights 305-250-375 – 930; 83 kg: 4-Colin Knott Abington Heights 435-250-500 – 1185, 93 kg: 7-Adrian Escobales Riverside 200-215-350 – 765.

53 kg: 1-Reece Stanton Abington Heights 240-180-315 – 735, 3-Robert Gurnick Abington Heights 225-170-260 – 655; 66 kg: 1-Aris Galanakis Abington Heights 290-195-325 – 810, 3-Edgar Feliciano Riverside 265-185-300 – 750, 11-Michael Menjivar Riverside 0-195-350 – No total; 74 kg: 3-Jacob Carr Abington Heights 365-215-380 – 960; 83 kg: 1-Charlie Anstett Riverside 475-295-505 – 1275, 2-Alex Capone Riverside 405-205-500 – 1110; 105 kg: 2-Sawyer Wilson Abington Heights 470-275-470 – 1215, 3-Exavier Pelton Riverside 415-255-480 – 1150, 6-Brogan Perfilio Riverside 340-230-335 – 905, 7-Ben Clark Parkland 325-200-355 – 880; 120 kg: 1-Aidan Taylor Riverside 530-265-540 – 1335, 3-Marc Ngongo Riverside 405-235-450 – 1090.