Powerlifting as a sport in high school is behind the curve in Louisiana. The sport has, however, taken off all over the state in the last five years.

Pickering High School hosted the Second Annual Red Devil Classic Powerlifting meet Saturday, January 11 at the PHS gym. Male and female lifters from Pickering, Anacoco, Leesville, and six out-of-parish squads competed in various weight categories. Grant won the girls overall, 63-4, with Pickering finishing in second. Pickering won the boys overall, nudging second place Leesville, 51-48. Following is a list of winners from each weight category:
GIRLS
97lbs. Ava Isgitt/Many
105lbs. Serena Quimbao/Pickering
114lbs. Saydie Wilson/Grant
123lbs. Mahogany Boyd/Grant
132lbs. Payton Seward/Grant
148lbs. London Delaney/Grant
165lbs. Alyssa Brewton/St.Mary’s
181lbs. Jayla Calloway/Anacoco
198lbs. Morgan Dewalt/Grant
220lbs. Ella Sanders/Grant
Super-heavyweight Maggie Pharis/Grant
MOST OUTSTANDING LIFTERS 97-148lbs. Payton Seward/Grant
165-SHW Alyssa Brewton/St. Mary’s

BOYS
114 lbs. Sam Hewitt/Leesville
125lbs. Seth Dukes/Leesville
132lbs. Grant Moffit/Anacoco
148lbs. Kendrick Lee/Leesville
165lbs. Jaikalon Remedies/Many
181lbs. Hunter Noel/Pickering
198lba. Jonathan Anderson/Many
220lbs. Tristian Manasco/Many
242lbs. Jarron Eakes/Leesville
275lbs. Ethan Brown/Pickering
Super heavyweight Jayden Parker/Sam Houston
MOST OUTSTANDING LIFTERS 114-165 lbs. Seth Dukes/Leesville
181-SHW Tristian Manasco/Many

Congratulations to all the lifters for their strength and dedication. The LHSAA State Championships are March 26-29 in conjunction with the LHSPLA.

The Pickering event was sanctioned by the Louisiana High School Powerlifting Association (LHSPLA). The regional meets are set for female Vernon lifters at Pineville on Saturday, February 22.  Local boys in the Central region will compete at Leesville High School on Saturday, March 1 in a regional. The LHSAA/LHSPLA state meet will be held at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, Louisiana.