Matt Vines
Chasing a second straight state powerlifting title, Mansfield’s Terrance Pegues was right where he wanted to be going into the final lift.
Pegues was tied with Rosepine’s Blaine Savoie, the same challenger Pegues had in 2023 when he won his first Division IV state championship in the 275-pound class.
But Pegues’ best lift is the deadlift, and all he had to do was perform in his normal realm to take home another trophy.
The senior outlifted Savoie on the deadlift, 585 pounds to 560 pounds, to win the title by 25 pounds with a total of 1,395 pounds. The 585 pounds is a new Division IV record for deadlift just missed a new composite record.
Pegues squatted 500 pounds (Savoie led with 510 pounds) and bench pressed 310 pounds (tying Savoie’s total after he put up 300 pounds).
“Terrance really won the meet on the second lift (bench press) because dead lift is Terrance’s best event,” said Mansfield powerlifting coach Ryan Stewart. “(Savoie) had to chase him, and he missed.“TJ attempted to set the composite record and was able to get it up, but he couldn’t finish it. It was a good day, and it’s a great way to end his high school career. He has set a standard for Mansfield powerlifting.”
Mansfield scored a total of 13 points to finish seventh as a team. Two other Wolverines finished fourth in their respective weight classes – Jaden Ross (1,025 pounds in the 148-pound class) and Darrien Wells (1,170 pounds in the 242-pound class).
Four North DeSoto girls scored points in the Division II championships led by a trio of fourth-place finishes.
Briley Pendleton (610 pounds in the 105-pound class), Anna Giddens (660 pounds in the 123-pound class) and Jaliyah Brown (765 pounds in the 165-pound class) all finished fourth.
Kinsey Reynolds (650 pounds in the 132-pound class) finished fifth.
The Mansfield girls featured two scorers while the North DeSoto boys had one scorer at the meet.
Mansfield’s Charlene Jackson finished fifth at 181 pounds (lifted 505 pounds) while Nyriah Hensley took sixth in the 220-pound class (710 total pounds).
This was the Mansfield girls first season as a program.
North DeSoto’s Blake Chambers lifted a total of 1,150 pounds to place fifth in the 148-pound class.