Powerlifting team applauded by board

Iota may be relatively new to powerlifting, but it’s no slouch.
Case in point, it is now the American Powerlifting Federation national champions in the co-ed division, and its boys team a national runner-up.
“Thank you for having us here, we appreciate the recognition” said Ray Aucoin, coach for the squad. “The kids worked really hard.
“We started the year in January going to Mamou for an open invitational. We did really well with 11 lifters earning medals.”
The team is comprised of two varsity girls and 11 varsity boys.
Monday, during its regular April meeting, the Acadia Parish School Board was eager to recognize the team.
“We move on to state as the fourth seed and we break records,” said Aucoin. “We did not produce a state champion – individual or team. We were seeded fourth and, unfortunately, because of a lack of focus, we did not accomplish state championship status.
“We rebounded very quickly, though.”
After falling short at the state level, the team came back nationally and defeated four Louisiana teams for the national honor. And, in the midst of its state and national championship tries, Iota has walked away with four state records and a national record as well.
In fact, it also almost had a world record.
“Sadie Zaunbrecher was going to attempt the world bench press record, for a 114-pound young lady, but they wouldn’t allow it because it wasn’t a world meet,” said Aucoin.
As the team was preparing to exit, the board offered its congratulations.
“I would just like to express my appreciation for Coach Aucoin,” said Milton Simar, school board member for District 8. “We were looking for a guy (to lead powerlifting) with energy and motivation.
“When you see him somewhere he says, ‘I have something to tell you,’ and I know it’s going to be about powerlifting. He was eating and sleeping that stuff.”
The area hopes to be the host of a regional in the near future as well.
Besides that, however, the future of powerlifting appears to be bright in Iota, and the parish overall.
“These kids are highly recognized right now,” said Aucoin. “I’m very proud of them and they did very well.
“We’re young, and we have a lot to look forward to for next year.”
Later, in his comments to close the meeting, Superintendent John Bourque commended Iota for its achievement and was happy to continue to hear of great accomplishments by the parish’s youth.
“Powerlifting, ever since it started at Church Point, and now Iota has joined in (has done well),” said Bourque. “It just goes to show that if you get involved with these kids, they’ll do great things.”
In other items Monday night, the board proclaimed the week of April 18-22 as Attendance Awareness Week.
The awareness week is being put forth by the state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and Department of Education and falls just one week ahead of school testing.
Though not directly tied to testing throughout the state, Louisiana’s educational leaders are pushing the importance of attending school that week and every week and, through its proclamation, are encouraging “all school districts to plan and develop activities to recognize the thousands of students who attend school regularly.”
For the state, however, the following week will be just as important for attendance.
“Testing is right around the corner,” said Bourque.
The superintendent also expressed his optimism that the district would once again perform well in the standardized tests.
“Hopefully, we will do well in it once again this year.”
The board approved the proclamation by unanimous vote Monday night.
The board will hold its April committee meetings on Monday, April 25, followed by its general board meeting on Monday, May 2.