HARTLAND — Being a two-time state champion would have been satisfaction enough for Hartland senior Roman Ignagni.
Ignagni didn’t even realize there was something greater to achieve as a high school powerlifter when he headed to Lake Orion High School March 8 to defend his state title.
The plan was to win another championship at 275 pounds, then get ready to begin his final season as a thrower on the Hartland track and field team two days later.
Then Ignagni was told there was an opportunity to take his talent to the national level.
“It was something I honestly didn’t even know was an option,” he said. “I actually only heard about nationals at states. I didn’t realize the two federations have some sort of agreement where you could qualify at states.”
Making the opportunity more enticing and realistic was that the USA Powerlifting High School Nationals were being held a week later within driving distance in Appleton, Wis.
So, even though it wasn’t part of the plan, Roman Ignagni can add the title of national champion to his resume.
He dominated a field of 24 competitors in the 125-kilogram weight class with a three-lift total of 1,721.5 pounds. Runner-up Noah Pace of Minnesota had a total of 1,622.5 pounds. Ignagni’s bests lifts were 605 in the squat, 412.5 for bench press and 704 for dead lift.
It was not only Ignagni’s first national meet, but the first time he had to deal with converting pounds to kilograms in a competition. Lifters have to declare the next weight they plan to lift ahead of time, so a mathematical error could have consequences. One kilogram is equivalent to 2.2 pounds.
“We had to prepare so much beforehand so we knew exactly what to say, because it’s such a big adjustment for me having everything usually in pounds,” he said. “We made do with it. You have a set amount of time to get the number in. If you don’t get it in in time, they take away that last attempt if you’re not ready. We used a converter on the day instead of having to switch to the calculator app on our phones.”
One significant difference for Ignagni this year was he was competing with teammates. He was a lone wolf the last few years, going to meets with his father, but he worked with administration at Hartland to get a powerlifting team at the school. There were 16 lifters on the team, 12 boys and four girls. Hartland tied for ninth in the state meet.
“It really felt a lot like a community,” he said. “I don’t think there was anybody there because their parents wanted them to come out. A lot of athletes were there because they heard about it, heard their friends were there. Nobody forced them to be on a rigid schedule. They were there by choice.
“I love my dad, but when it was just him it still felt kind of lonely. Having 10 other guys there, it felt a lot warmer in that environment.”
It was Ignagni’s father who got him started in powerlifting the summer before seventh grade.
“I was a pretty large kid,” he said. “I think he saw it as a way to get me moving, get me some sort of exercise. I had a great starting point. My dad saw some potential in it. Just sticking with consistency, I’ve been able to continue growing. I haven’t had a time where I’ve slowed down too much. That continuous growth just kept me coming back. I’ve never not really looked forward to that next highest weight, that next (personal record).”
Ignagni plans to attend Michigan State University and compete on its club powerlifting team.
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@gannett.com. Follow ...
