“Last year Garrett (Ouder) was stronger than me so I was just trying for second. This year I’m first,” Drake said. “The goal is probably to get a ring.”
Drake seemed philosophical about his runner-up finish. He lost to Pearl River Central’s Garrett Ouder by nearly 200 pounds. Thomas, however, scratched on the deadlift because of a technical violation. He was still about 100 pounds behind Lake Cormorant’s Tyler Wallace for first place, but would have been on the podium in third if his lift had counted.
Thomas said he’s used the experience as a motivational tool. He totaled 1,475 pounds at the North State meet, which was 100 pounds ahead of last year’s total at state — and about the same amount ahead of this year’s Nos. 2 and 3 seeds Cordero McDaniel of Brookhaven and Eli Cantrell of Caledonia.
“Win it all. I got cheated last year because I moved too slow. They said I scratched on deadlift because I was moving too slow and using all my knees. I could have had that,” said Thomas, who has signed to play football at Mississippi Delta Community College, and also in the shot put and discus for VHS’ track and field team. “After that it wasn’t even like I could go play football again. It was straight back to the gym.”
Brown is the newcomer to the Gators’ state-bound group. The sophomore will compete in the girls 242-pound division in her first year in the sport. She also participates in band and archery, and said she joined the powerlifting team to help with those activities.
“I would have joined last year if I knew, but I kind of didn’t. My other sports seasons were ending. I wanted to get stronger and be better for myself, so I said, ‘Why not try weightlifting?’” Brown said. “Me and a couple friends signed up and liked the experience. It was calm and relaxing, so we said we’d stick it out.”
Brown is seeded fifth of out six lifters in her weight class, but Nos. 3 through 6 all lifted either 555 or 560 pounds at North and South State. It might take some effort and things falling into place to win a state title — No. 1 seed Raven Stenson of Laurel is a clear favorite after totaling 810 pounds at South State — but that didn’t stop Brown from smiling when she thought about climbing to the top step of the podium.
“My coaches, directors and everything tell me I’m strong enough to do this, so I feel like I do have a good chance to win. Even if I don’t win I still feel like the greatest in my group,” Brown said. “When you asked them (the other VHS lifters) about winning, I’m going to be honest. I saw gold confetting falling everywhere and me on top of the world. That’s how I imagine it for me.”
Warren Central will have two lifters in the boys Class 6A meet on Saturday. Chase Johnson is seeded third in the 165-pound weight class, and Sam Ross is the top seed in the 220-pound division.
Ross won the 220-pound Class 6A championship in 2025, and totaled 1,450 pounds at this year’s North State meet. Saltillo’s KJ Robbins and Forest Hill’s Tydarion Johnson are the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds at 1,410 and 1,400 pounds, respectively.
