JACKSON – Bogue Chitto’s Tyler Saucier and Shane (Buck) Lewiswere crowned champions in the Class 1A State PowerliftingChampionships at the Mississippi Coliseum. Saucier won the148-pound division and Lewis captured the 308-pound title, leadingthe Bobcats to a runners-up finish in the team championship, justone point behind Coffeeville, 30-29.

“We came up a little short,” said Bogue Chitto powerlifting coachChad Norton. “These kids worked hard to improve their strength. Weknew the competition would be close.”

Saucier produced lifts of 305 pounds in the squat, 180 in the benchpress and 400 in the deadlift.

Lewis squatted with 410 pounds. He benched 245 and deadlifted485.

Other Bogue Chitto lifters and their total poundage were 123-KeithWells, third, 565; 132-Reid Bales, fourth, 760; 165-ColtonMcClendon, second, 1,085; Robert Bonds, fifth, 920; 181-ByronKersee, second, 1,140; 275-Tevin Tobias, second, 1,030; 275-KeithArnold, third, 985; and SHW Cory Wells, fifth, 960.

The Bobcats won the South 1A championship last month and were amongthe favorites to win it all. Smithville was a distant third atstate with 24 points and Durant was fourth with 22.

Panthers Place Eighth

The Brookhaven Panthers placed eighth in the Class 5A competitionwith eight points. They were led by Jawaun Merchant in the308-pound division and Jeff Newton in 198 as they both finishedthird. Shelby Hodges was fourth in 114.

Finishing sixth were Isaiah Williams in 148, Austin Barnett in 198and James Michael Patti in 220.

Pearl won the 5A crown with 55 points. Ridgeland and Hernando weresecond with 23 points. West Point was next with 15.