Southwood’s Cambria Holmes, Loyola’s Hugh Herzog set national powerlifting records

Two Shreveport high school student-athletes were among those showing out, and setting records recently at the 2024 USAPL High School National Championships in Baton Rouge.

Southwood’s Cambria Holmes and Loyola’s Hugh Herzog represented North Louisiana powerlifting with memorable performances that will allow them to move onto the USAPL Worlds.

Holmes, who has been one of the top lifters in the state over the past four years, won despite the Southwood administration eliminating the sport when it didn’t renew the contract of powerlifting coach Jesse Esters, who is now at Woodlawn. Since Holmes couldn’t compete for an LHSAA title, she turned to the USAPL.

The Lady Cowboy senior pushed herself to the limit in the squat (541 pounds), bench (214) and deadlift (344) for a record 1,099 pounds and the national title.

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“My national championship means the most to me, especially since the team at my school was canceled my senior year,” Holmes said. “From all the blood, sweat, tears and 4 a.m. workouts — and just all the hard work these last 4 years to work up to this point. I love my sport and I know that I am so willing to do anything for it — just for the work to pay off means a lot.”

Herzog, who will attend Louisiana Tech in the fall to major in engineering, set the Louisiana all-time bench press record with a 206.75-pound lift at 123 pounds to win his national title.

“I am not satisfied since I didn’t break the all-time national record,” Herzog said. “Once I get the all-time national bench press record, and the all-time state squat record, which I am looking to do on May 11, I will be satisfied.”

He will lift at a meet in Houston in two weeks, then compete in the USAPL High School World Championships in New York on June 29 hoping to lift 220.25 pounds. Herzog also competed in the triple jump, long jump, 4x100, 4x200, 100 and 200-meter events for the Flyer track and field team.

Holmes has earned a scholarship to Midland University in Nebraska, the reigning national collegiate champions.

“The competition in Baton Rouge was so awesome,” Holmes said. “I felt like this was redemption because I didn’t have a season and I just went out there and had the time of my life lifting and enjoying my family and coaches.”

Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Southwood’s Holmes, Loyola’s Herzog set national powerlifting records