By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports
Buckeye came up four points shy of bringing two trophies from the LHSAA State Powerlifting Championships back to Rapides Parish.
The Panthers, led by six podium finishes, were the runner-up to state champion Church Point at Saturday’s Division III boys championships, while the Lady Panthers finished four points behind runner-up Church Point at Friday’s Division III girls championships.
The boys compiled 38 points, 20 behind Church Point, while the girls tallied 35 points to finish behind champion Port Allen (45) and Church Point (39).
Junior Matthew Ryland led the Panthers’ efforts by claiming the state title in the boys 198-pound weight class with a combined total of 1,430 pounds, including 550 pounds in the squat and 555 pounds in the deadlift.
Sophomore Bryce Warthen (123-pound weight class, 920 pounds) and senior Canaan Hoosier (165, 1,255) earned silver medals for the Panthers, while sophomore Drake Sellers (114, 735) senior Kain Deville (220, 1,425) and senior Alex Ryder (242, 1,425) finished third.
Senior Kylie Dyer and junior Madelyn Marcotte both earned gold medals for the Lady Panthers on Friday. Marcotte totaled 575 pounds to win the girls 97-pound weight class, while Dyer lifted a total of 850 pounds to win the 132-pound class. Dyer set a state composite record with a 215-pound bench press.
They were joined on the podium by four teammates. Kaylee Rayburn (105, 535), Maggy Ducote (148, 825) and Andrea Saucier (181, 820) brought home silver medals, while Rosalee Richey (165, 785) earned a bronze medal.
“Both teams persevered and put into practice everything they were taught,” said Buckeye coach Lacey Hoosier, who plans to step away from powerlifting with the graduation of her son, Canaan. “We fought hard and were a well-disciplined team. I am extremely proud of them, and we are proudly bringing home the title of State Runner-Up for Division III, which is a huge feat with such a strong group of competitors.”
Peabody and Tioga finished third and fourth overall at Friday’s Division II Girls State Championships. Peabody, led by three third-place finishes, racked up 18 points, while Tioga scored 16 points behind two gold-medal winners.
Two Tioga juniors led the Lady Indians by finishing at the top of the podium. Cassidy Vickers won the 97-pound weight class with a total of 510 pounds, while Tamiyah Howard was the 181-pound class winner with a total of 870 pounds, including a division state record of 405 pounds in the deadlift.
Peabody junior Jakyre Richard (105, 615), senior Matajah Peterson (114, 605) and senior Kaasia Kirk (Super Heavyweight, 835) all won bronze medals for the Lady Warhorses.
Tioga scored 24 points to finish third in the Division II boys team standings on Saturday.
The Indians were led by three podium finishers. Junior Ryan Reynolds finished second in the 220-pound class with a total of 1,435 pounds. Seniors Carter Jolly (275, 1,310) and Gus Soto (Super Heavyweight, 1,365) both earned bronze medals.
Peabody senior Latavion Bullitts finished second in the 132-pound class with 1,040 pounds as the Warhorses finished 13th in the team standings.
Pineville senior McKinzley Thomason was named the Most Outstanding Lifter for the Light Platform (97- to 148-pound weight classes) and set a state composite record with 860 pounds to win the Division I girls 123-pound weight class. Thomason also set a Division I state record with a 340-pound squat.
Fellow senior Aniyah Dorn won the 165-pound weight class with a total of 930 pounds, while senior Emma Deouch (123, 700) and junior Margaret Bordelon (132, 810) earned bronze medals to pace the Lady Rebels to a fourth-place finish with 22 points.
ASH also tallied 22 points to finish fifth, and the Lady Trojans were led by gold-medal winner Isabella Rachal. A senior, Rachal compiled 910 pounds to win the 148-pound weight class.
The Lady Trojans also had three third-place finishers: senior Makayla Dangerfield (181, 855), junior Paris Logan (198, 855) and junior Jazmyn Lavalais (220, 945).
Rapides sophomore Keyshon Byrd was the only parish lifter to make the podium during Wednesday’s Division IV and V boys meet. Byrd claimed a third-place finish in the 275-pound weight class with a total of 1,235 pounds.
Byrd’s third-place finish helped Rapides tie for 10th place in the Division V boys team standings, while Northwood-Lena finished in 13th place. Glenmora finished 16th in the Division IV boys team standings.
Glenmora senior Marissa Hall finished third in the Super Heavyweight division at Thursday’s Division IV girls meet with a total of 760 pounds, helping the Lady Wildcats to a 10th-place finish in the team standings.