Matt Vines
Eight Mansfield High powerlifters and two from North DeSoto High punched their tickets to their respective state championships via their performance at regional competitions Saturday.
Athletes who finish in the top 10 in their weight class in their school’s division from across the state qualify for the LHSAA Powerlifting State Championship meet.
That meet will be held March 20-23 at the Cajundome on the campus of UL Lafayette.
Mansfield’s seven lifters going to the Division IV state championship spanned the weight class spectrum from 114 pounds to 275 pounds.
Terrance Pegues lifted 1,400 pounds total (500 squat, 320 bench press, 580 dead lift) in the 275-pound class.
Three other Mansfield lifters qualified above 200 pounds. Darrien Wells (1,085 total: 415-245-425) and Deanthony Chambers (1,080 total: 425-220-435) competed in the 242-pound class.
William Phoenix (1,130 total: 420-255-455) lifted in the 220-pound class.
Mansfield’s Derrick Mitchell (940 total: 330-195-415 in the 165-pound class) and Jaden Ross (955 total: 320-220-415 in the 148-pound class) both neared the 1,000-pound mark.
Mansfield’s Lavel Claudio (610 total: 185-145-280 in the 123-pound class) and Omar Thomas (290 total: 100-70-120 in the 114-pound class) represented the lighter classes.
Stepping up into Division II presented tougher competition as North DeSoto placed two lifters into the state championship meet.
North DeSoto’s Blake Chambers (1,050 total: 395-220-430) competed in the 148-pound class.
Teammate Jacob Haley will be the only freshman in the Division II 132-pound class as he lifted 820 pounds (280-165-375).
Several other Griffin competitors just missed the cut to go to state.
Kendol Jones hoisted 1,045 pounds (345-250-450) to miss the cut in the 181-pound class by less than 50 pounds.
Micheal Loupe was just 35 pounds off the mark in the 220-pound class as he totaled 1,150 pounds (465-255-430).
Joshua Woodard finished three spots out of the state competition at 275 pounds, lifting 955 at the regionals (335-235-385).