The Charleston High School Lady Tigers’ powerlifting team captured the Class II North State championship last week.
For a third straight year, the title was decided by tiebreaker.
Both Charleston and Pontotoc High School finished with 27 team points, but CHS won by virtue of the first tiebreaker — having three lifters who won their respective weight class while Pontotoc had two who placed on top.
Rounding out the top five teams at the meet were Tishomingo County, with 24 points; Water Valley, 21; and defending north half champ Itawamba County, 20.
Charleston is 2-1 in north half titles decided by tiebreaker over the last three years, also winning in 2016 and falling just short one year ago.
This year’s crown marks the Lady Tigers’ ninth north half championship overall.
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Four of five competing Charleston lifters qualified for April’s state powerlifting championships in Jackson.
» Freshman Keely Buckley won the 97-pound weight class with lifts totaling 455 pounds, including a squat of 145, a bench press of 90 and a deadlift of 220.
» Senior Brielle Shegog won the 165-pound weight class with lifts totaling 640 pounds, including a squat of 250, a bench press of 110 and a deadlift of 280.
» Sophomore Aaliyah Bowens won the 181-pound weight class with lifts totaling 655 pounds, including a squat of 250, a bench press of 90 and a deadlift of 315.
» Sophomore Asia Johnson placed second in the 105-pound weight class with lifts totaling 450 pounds, including a squat of 145, a bench press of 85 and a deadlift of 220.
The fifth Charleston lifter, Germirrah Cannon, initially tied for fourth in the 123-pound weight class but due to a tiebreaker, body weight, she wound up in fifth place. She did not qualify for the state meet, but she did earn points for her team. Cannon, a freshman, had lifts totaling 475 pounds, including a squat of 190, a bench press of 75 and a deadlift of 210.
Jeff Hollingsworth is head coach of the Charleston ladies. Scott Martin assists.
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On the boys’ side, the Charleston Tigers placed fifth overall at the Class 3A North State championship.
Four of five competing CHS boys performed well enough at north half to advance to the state meet. The top three finishers qualify.
» Shaundrick Cashaw placed second overall in the 132-pound weight class by lifting 870 total pounds.
» John Adam Robinson placed third in the 114-pound weight class by lifting 560 total pounds.
» Jeffrey Loston placed third overall in the 148-pound weight class by lifting 945 total pounds.
» Dontavious Cashaw placed third in the 308-pound weight class by lifting 1,365 total pounds.
Not qualifying for state but earning team points was Alfernee Hankins, who placed fourth in the 275-pound weight class by lifting 1,215 total pounds.
The CHS boys are led by head coach Scott Martin, Chris Rankin and Ben Schenk.
IN THE PHOTO: The Class II north half champion Charleston High School Lady Tiger powerlifting team features (from left) Germirrah Cannon, Asia Johnson, Aaliyah Bowens, Brielle Shegog and Keely Buckley. (Photo special to The Sun-Sentinel)
