by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
The longevity of the powerlifting season makes it more of a marathon than a sprint.
Teams that are able to negotiate the length of a season – one that’s actually a week longer than a football season from beginning to end – are the ones usually standing atop the podium by season’s end.
“You have to maintain your kids,” Denham Springs strength and conditioning coach Joe Ryan, former president of LHSPLA. “You can’t peak them too early at regionals. You can’t have them not ready for regionals, and they end up not making it to state. It’s got to be done with a careful mindset.”
That five-month grind comes to a close over the next four days with the start of the LHSAA Powerlifting State Championships on Wednesday at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner.
The Division IV-V boys begin competition at 10 a.m. The state championships continue each day at the same time, with the Division IV-V girls taking the stage Thursday, followed Friday by the Division I-II-III girls and Saturday with the Division I-II-III boys.
“Some people handle it differently,” Ryan said of the elongated schedule.
A month has separated the regional and state meets, where competitors have continued to perfect their craft and improve in anticipation of becoming a state champion.
Ryan said the Pontchartrain Center served the state championships well as a host in its first season in 2025, with necessities such as food and lodging nearby.
New Orleans has developed a growing interest in the sport, which is scheduled to host a USAPL National Collegiate Championships in two weeks.
“The growth of the sport has continually grown across the state,” Ryan said. “For example, in the East Region, we had 196 girls this year. We had 166 in 2022 after starting with 89 in 2020. We’ve doubled in six years.
“The overall number of lifters in a meet was 5,000 in 2025,” Ryan said. “More people are getting to have athletic hours. More multi-sport athletes are out. That all helps create growth. In 2021, we had 121 teams statewide, and now we have 208 schools. We’ve seen a bigger jump on the girls’ side. It’s growing across the nation.”
The biggest storyline entering this year’s state championships revolves around the incomparable mark of Lutcher’s girls’ program. The Lady Bulldogs of co-coaches John and Kellie Majendie have won 18 consecutive Division II state championships and are set to defend their state crowns along with the boys team.
Lutcher’s one of three programs – along with West Monroe and Church Point – that swept state championships last season, with Lutcher and Church Point, based on projections from the meet’s seeding process, expected to repeat once again.
Lutcher, which has six lifters seeded No. 1, is expected to fend off competition from Grant for the Division II girls title. It’s a little closer race for the boys’ title with Northwood of Shreveport, which has four top-seeded lifters, expected to battle the Bulldogs.
Church Point’s boys have won four straight Division III state titles and have a pair of No. 1-seeded lifters and are projected to nudge Jewel Sumner. The Lady Bears, who are led by three top-seeded lifters, are expected to prevail ahead of Mamou.
“They’re working hard, getting ready,” Church Point coach Eddie Bergeron, a 2012 member of the LHSPLA Hall of Fame. “The kids just work hard. They do everything we ask them to do. They push for it. They earn everything they get.”
Northlake Christian is projected to unseat two-time defending Division IV state champion Episcopal in the boys competition, with Lake Arthur expected to be in the mix.
With five of the No. 1-seeded lifters, D’Arbonne Woods is a favorite on the girls’ side with Pope John Paul II, which also has five No. 1-seeded lifters, expected to be right on their heels.
Cedar Creek has five top-seeded lifters and is projected to win its second straight Division V girls crown, followed by Sacred Heart-Ville Platte, which has one No. 1 seeded lifter.
The Cougars have an inside track to sweep the team titles in Division V with four top-seeded lifters.
“Coach Bergeron is a phenomenal coach, phenomenal man,” Ryan said. “He does it the right way. It’s a consistent program.”
Another run for Lutcher’s girls toward another state title will feature a well-constructed roster where the Lady Bulldogs have seven of 11 lifters with top marks.
Avery St. Pierre (132), Danielle Louque (148), Zae’li Florian (198), and Colbie Mitchell (220) are defending state champions, while Addison St. Pierre (181) was a first-team all-state selection and Mitchell a second-team choice. Ava Martinez (105) is also a top-seeded lifter for the Lady Bulldogs.
Lutcher also has depth with Kerianna Louque, the No. 2 seed at 132, Chloe Lorio, No. 2 at 148, Rylie Roussel, No. 3 at 165, and the Nos. 2 and 3 seeds at superheavyweight Kelis Washington and Gabriella Bivonia, respectively.
No. 1 seeds Conner Richard and Jeremiah Boyd are returning state champions who lead Church Point at 132 and 275, respectively. Brian Manuel is No. 2 at 114, Damarcus Boast, No. 2 at 123, Alexis Barcenas, No. 2 at 242, and Slade Stelly, No. 3 at superheavyweight.
“Conner Richard won state as a freshman last year, and we moved up to 123 this year,” said Bergeron, who has spent 19 of his 30 years in coaching at Church Point. “He’s very strong and loves the weight room. He’s had two brothers that were state champions. He’s from a long list of Richards that have excelled in the sport.
“Jeremiah Boyd’s just an animal,” Bergeron said. “He’s going to put up some very big numbers at this meet. We’re looking for him to have a really big meet.”
The Lady Bears are led by lower weight standouts Madilyn Bieber (105), Mariana Caffey (114), and Ava Grace Richard (132).
“They’ve competed and have steadily moved up,” said Bergeron, who credited assistant Dustin Thibodeaux for his work with the girls’ team. “Every time we lift, they PR every couple of weeks. I expect them to do well. I’m not worried about the veteran girls as long as some of the new faces can hold it together.”
D’Arbonne Woods girls return a pair of state champions in Karsyn Kelly (105) and Bella Hawthorne (114), and are two of the Lady Timberwolves top-seeded lifters. They’re joined by Kasyn Kelly (97), an honorable mention all-state choice last year, Lylah Jones (123) and Bailee Smith (181), while Brylie Garris (105) and Lola Kate Scallan (165) are both seeded second.
Pope John Paul has five top-seeded lifters with Lilly Alonso (132), Shelby Fischer (148), Juliette Brewer (165), Cristina Angelloz (198), and returning state champion Makensie Scott (super heavyweight).
The chances of Cedar Creek’s girls repeating in Division V appear favorable with top-seeded lifters in Joanie Cannon (105), Marley Jinks (114), Catherine Williams (148), Gia Garlington (165), and Kate Harris (198).
The Lady Cougars also have Aubrey Singleton at No. 3 at 97, Kenna Williams, No. 3 at 181, and Ainsley Dement, No. 3 at 220.
Sacred Heart counters with No. 1 Abeline Rose (97), Aubrey Launey, No. 2 (97), Layla Craft at No. 2 (132), and Haley Dupree at No. 2 (198).
West Monroe’s strength near the bottom of its lineup is cause for optimism for the Rebels to repeat in Division I.
State runner-up Christian Ponti, a second-team all-state selection last season, is a No. 1 seed (220) along with Troy Smith (242), Jason Sanchez (275), and returning state champion and first-team all-state choice, Damien Sanders (super heavyweight).
The Rebels’ depth also includes Alex Formar, No. 2 (148), Brycen Federico at No. 4 (148), and Drew Whilhite at No. 5 (165).
Second team all-state selection Brett Falco (148) is Covington’s lone No. 1 seed. The Lions also have No. 2 Daniel Hale (132), No. 2 Steele Rogers (220), No. 4 Sam Aparico (242), No. 3 Andrew Mariakis (275), and No. 4 Max Guy (super heavyweight).
Defending state champion and all-state choice Dylan Rockett of Live Oak is a No. 1 seed at 181 and holds the state’s composite record for total pounds (1,815 pounds) and bench press (470).
Denham Springs’ Darreyus ‘Debo’ Scott, the No. 2 seed at 242, holds the state’s deadlift record of 675 pounds, while Central’s Dakota Buhler, the No. 1 seed at 198, has set the state record of 500 pounds in the bench.
Brynn Catalano, one of three No. 1-seeded lifters for Live Oak’s girls, set the composite squat record of 360 pounds at 123 pounds. The Lady Eagles also have top-seeded performers Kaila Maher (97), Jenna Robertson (198), an honorable mention all-state choice last year.
Destrehan’s Hadassah Costa (105) is one of two No. 1 seeds for the Lady Wildcats with Sarah Freeman (super heavyweight), while Najone Cammon is No. 2 (105), Angela Campbell is No. 3 (148), and Hailey Chiasson is No. 3 (165). No. 1 seed Grace Hartdegen of Division II St. Scholastica, who lifts in the 123-pound division, brings in the state’s bench press record of 205 pounds.
Abbeville’s Khandi Shuford, a returning state champion and first-team all-state choice, is the No. 1 seed at 123 pounds in Division III and holds both the deadlift (375) and total weight (915) records.
