The 2024 powerlifting season got off to a successful start for the Hilldale Hornets recently, especially for a talented freshman.
Kaiden Ford wrestled at both the middle and school and high school levels in the two-day Hilldale Powerlifting Meet and won the middle school division while placing second in the high school class with a total lift of 1360 pounds in the three areas of bench press, deadlift and squat lift.
Ford was an All-Phoenix selection this freshman year as an offensive lineman for the Hornet football team though he also plays noseguard on defense.
“He’s extremely strong and has a quick first step off the ball,” said Hornet football coach David Blevins.
“This first year was a lot of fun being with new teammates but the guys I was going against were just a lot bigger and faster than what I was used to in middle school,” said Ford who will throw the shot put and discus for the Hornet track team this spring. “I really got into powerlifting primarily to get better for football,and I’ve been seriously lifting for six or seven years now. My goal is to win first place at state in my first year of high school.”
Also getting the new powerlifting season off to a good start for Hilldale was another football player in Cash Schiller who captured the title at 242 pounds with a total lift of 1450 pounds-about 100 pounds more than the nearest competitor.
Both Ford and Schiller will compete and practice the rest of February as they look to regionals and state in March.
