Courtesy Photo Members of the SkellaFiT Powerlifting team stand together at their latest competition in Rochester. The team took first place in four categories at the United Powerlifting Association state competition.

SkellaFiT Powerlifting takes first place in four categories at a state competition.

Four women from Alpena competed in the United Powerlifting Association state competition at Rochester Performance Gym on Feb. 18, 2024, in Rochester.

Alpena’s all-woman SkellaFiT Powerlifting Team brought home first place in four categories:

Women’s Raw Sub-Masters

∫ Katie Edgar – 1st Place – 67.5 kg class

∫ Jessie Fischer – 1st Place – 100 kg class

∫ Elle Bee – 1st Place – 125 kg class

Women’s Raw Masters

∫ Krista Hempel -1st Place – 125 kg class

The team also celebrated Elle Bee’s qualification for State Record Holder in all three lifting categories:

∫ 353-pound Squat

∫ 170-pound Bench Press

∫ 353-pound Deadlift

“My Powerlifting journey has brought me into the most supportive and uplifting group of women you could imagine,” Bee said. “We get to laugh and have fun all while pushing ourselves to limits we never thought possible. I am so proud of the accomplishments the SkellaFiT team gained this past meet, and being able to share my own victory of becoming a Powerlifting State Record Holder.”

“Considering these athletes have been Powerlifting for under a year and are bringing home honors is very telling of the work these women have been putting in,” SkellaFiT Personal Training Owner and Strength Coach Cristi Johnson said. “They are doing an amazing job representing Alpena and the strength of the women in our community.”

The Rochester Performance Gym Reign of Power Lifting Meet brought in 65 competitors from around the state, as well as out-of-state competitors, over the two-day competition.

Alpena-based businesses Wolverine State Credit Union, Canine Communication, and Sherwood Pita Wagon sponsored SkellaFit’s participation in the competition.