By Staff
March 11, 2001
By Richard Dark
The Meridian Star
Those Panthers really know how to throw their weight around.
The Quitman Panther powerlifting team is seeking to continue the success it had last year when the Panthers captured the Class 4A state championship.
Eddie Sorto's Panthers took another step toward the repeat with a decisive win in the 4A South State meet held at the QHS Gymnasium Saturday.
The Panthers led a 10-school field with a grand total of 55 points, blowing away second-place finisher Northeast Jones, which had 31 points.
The South State win marked Quitman's fifth in nine tries. The Panthers also finished first in four out of the five meets they attended this season.
Sorto's Panthers, who get to school to work out mornings at 6 a.m. had nine lifters advance to the 4A State Championship meet that will be held April 6-7 at Pearl High School.
The remaining order of finish at the meet was as follows: St. Martin, 23 points; Hancock, 14; Mendenhall 14; Laurel, 13; McComb, 12; Petal 9; D'Iberville, 6; Pearl River Central 1.
The point totals were derived from the total amount lifted in a squat, a bench press and a deadlift.
In the 114-pound weight class, Quitman's Jeffrey Jasper finished second with a 620-pound total. John Poisso finished third, also with a 620-pound total, but because Jasper weighed in at only 112, he was awarded the higher place.
In the 123-pound class, Matt Mollett finished first with a 715. The 132 class saw Aaron Rose take top honors with a total of 1,010. Second place in the class was Hernandizes Price with a 980. Vance McClendon took first in the 148 class with a score of 1,135.
In the higher weight classes, QHS continued to be successful.
Courtney Haralson finished first in the 185 class with a 1,360. Willie Pickens took first in the 198 class with a big total of 1,385.
Eugene Hamilton came in second in the 220 range with a score of 1,230. Jeffrey Smith rounded out QHS' scoring with a fourth-place finish in the 275 class. (1,240)
Sorto said his squad is made of of nearly 30 kids, even though only 10 are allowed to compete on the region team.
Results from other area powerlifting teams were not available.
Richard Dark is a sports writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at rdark@themeridianstar.com.