Louisiana Powerlifting State Championships moves to New Orleans for four-day bash
by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
2025 Girls State Qualifiers
2025 Boys State Qualifiers
The timing of this year’s LHSAA state powerlifting championships going to New Orleans couldn’t have worked out better.
The growth of the sport, which has resulted in the state’s biggest stage moving from a high school setting to arenas, will debut at the Ponchartrain Center in Kenner over a four-day period beginning Wednesday.
“The past two years, New Orleans has blown up when it comes to the sport,” outgoing president of the LHSPLA Joe Ryan of Denham Springs High School. “It used to be Rummel, Holy Cross, Brother Martin, and Shaw. Now everyone’s getting involved and that’s coupled with the Northshore (area), Hahnville, and Destrehan blowing up. Having it there is big.”
Ryan said New Orleans successfully hosted two of the sport’s three national high school-aged meets within a week of each other last summer. Covington coach John Buford, who hosted one of the national meets, will serve as this year’s host.
The Division IV-V boys begin competition at 10 a.m. Wednesday. 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.
“We’ve bid every two years,” said Ryan, who will be replaced as president next year by Buford. “We’ve had it in Monroe (Fant-Ewing Coliseum), Alexandria (Rapides Parish Coliseum) and Lafayette. We loved the Cajundome, but this will be the first time it will be in New Orleans.”
Ryan, along with other coaching pioneers such as Steve Urbina, Steve Baronich, Randy Johnson, and Randy Pourciau, has been part of a seismic shift in the sport. The first state meet of two divisions, held at Pope John Paul in 2014, drew 76 teams compared to this year’s field of 215 teams and 1,086 lifters.
“That’s a good growth in a 9-10-year period,” Ryan said. “Now we’re in arenas. We’re talking about these huge, massive meets that are going on. It’s bittersweet. It’s such a huge part of my life the past 11 years that I’ve been involved and done this. It’s been rewarding.
“I’m also an official,” Ryan said. “I’m happy my life has taken a different trajectory in strength and conditioning world. I’m the strength coach for the whole school. That’s all I do with every sport on campus.”
One of the areas of particular interest to Ryan has been the annual advancement of the LHSPLA’s scholarship donation. This year’s five winners – one recipient per division – will receive $1,000 thanks to the efforts of Ted Longo and is voted upon by a committee of LHSPLA stakeholders.
“It’s based on a coach’s letter, the kid’s letter, and their grades,” Ryan said. “It’s a one-time scholarship. It helps out.”
Lutcher’s girls in a class by themselves
Lutcher’s girls are expected to successfully defend its Division II girls’ state championship based on projections from the meet’s seeding process.
The Bulldogs have compiled an impressive stretch of 17 straight state titles and have five of the top-seeded lifters in this year’s competition with 132-pound Avery St. Pierre (795 total pounds), 165-pound Addison St. Pierre (885), 198-pound Zaeli Florian (905), 220-pound Colbie Mitchell (930) and super heavyweight Zahyra Hayes (1,160).
Lutcher also has the No. 2 seeds at 123 pounds Tanae Martin (715), 148 pounds Danielle Louque (780), and Jade Chabaud (855) at 181 pounds.
“I can’t say enough about Lutcher,” Ryan said. “(Co-coaches) John and Kellie Majendie have built a powerhouse. The boys are just as good with (coach) Chris Daigle.”
Port Allen’s girls have the next longest stretch of success with 11 consecutive Division III state titles. But according to Ryan, pre-meet projections have Church Point, Abbeville, and Buckeye threatening to stop the Pelicans’ reign.
Defending state champions West Monroe (Division I) and D’Arbonne Woods (Division IV) received top billing in their respective divisions, while Sacred Heart-Ville Platte is projected to unseat defending state champion Cedar Creek (Division V) followed by Holden.
West Monroe’s boys are the pick to dethrone reigning Division I state champion Dutchtown followed by Covington.
“Coach Wade Hooper has another strong team,” Ryan said of Dutchtown. “The year before they won it, they scored four to seven points and the next year they won it all. They latched onto getting some more football guys out, got some more athletes out and it took off. They have another really good team this year. The guys they qualified are hammers.”
Lutcher has the nod to stop St. Michael the Archangel’s run of two straight Division II boys state championships with Northwood of Shreveport and Pearl River slated to finish second and third, respectively.
Three-time reigning state champion Church Point is expected to rule the roost again in Division III boys with Jena and Abbeville supplying the competition.
Episcopal of Baton Rouge is the choice to capture the Division IV boy’s state crown ahead of Calvary Baptist and defending champion Northlake Christian.
Ryan said the race for the Division V crown will be a tight one where four points separate projected champion – Sacred Heart-Ville Platte – ahead of Cedar Creek and two-time defending state champion Ascension Catholic.
“Division V is going to be a battle,” Ryan said.
Church Point boys look for fourth straight title
Dutchtown has the top entrants in Joshua Thompson at 148 (1,445) and Eric Arbour at 165 (1,535), while West Monroe is led by Damien Sanders No. 1 at 275 (1,630) and Christian Ponti No. 2 at 220 (1,685).
Ponti is part of a quartet that established composite state records during regional competitions with a 730-pound squat along with teammate Alex Folmer’s 400-pound bench at 147 pounds. Arbour’s total weight of 1,535 pounds and Covington’s JT Sylvera’s 575-pound deadlift at 131 pounds were also composite marks.
Ouachita has two No. 1 seeds in 123-pound Hunter Wright (1,035 total pounds) and super heavyweight Alexander Washington (1,650 total pounds). Catholic High of Baton Rouge has the top two seeds at 181 pounds in Aidan Calkins (1,490) and Haynes Turner (1,480).
Pearl River is led by three top-seeded lifters in 132-pound Phillip Huth (1,085 pounds), 165-pound Sean Jenkins (1,265), and 181-pound Jesse Gonzalez (1,405). St. Michael has No. 1 seed Sammy Tramonte, a Midland University signee, at 123 pounds (1,100), No. 2 seed Grayson Boudreaux at 198 pounds (1,360) and No. 3 Peyton Scott at 220 (1,265).
Three top-seeded lifters help fuel Church Point’s chances with 114-pound Damarcus Bost (845), 123-pound Connor Richard (905) and 242-pound Braxton Leblanc (1,410).
Abbeville has two top-seeded lifters with 132-pound Bryand Mao (1,060) and 181-pound Aiden Brown (1,385) and Caldwell Parish also has a pair of No. 1 seeds in 275-pound Brian Alson (1,670) and super heavyweight Justin Worley (1,825).
Episcopal’s chances are rooted in its quality with three top-seeded participants – Carson Furniss (1,180) is No. 1 at 148, Sean Stewart (1,265) is No. 1 at 165 and Reid Chauvin is No. 1 at 198 (1,585). Calvary has No. 1 Evan Curry (905) at 123 and Dalton Creech (1,075) at 132, while Northlake Christian has Joseph Roudkoski No. 1 at 181 (1,290) and Wyatt Perritt (1,310) No. 1 at super heavyweight.
Gavin Patin (1,060) and Liam Kincanon (1,130) give Sacred Heart No. 1 seeds at 148 and 165 pounds, respectively, with Ascension Catholic leading the way with five top-seeded lifters – Caleb Robbins (725) at 114, Raphael Melancon (910) at 123, Harrison Ledet (1,015) at 132, Mace Melancon (1,445) at 198 and Aiden Paine (1,520) at super heavyweight.
Three girls’ teams given edge for repeat performances
West Monroe and Covington’s girls have an equal number of top-seeded lifters.
The Lady Rebels are led by Alora Walker (945) at 148 pounds, Addyson Caskey (1,000) at 220, and Lydia Huckaby (1,070) at super heavyweight, while the Lady Lions have Camille Crutcher (670) at 105, Lila Cooper (860) at 123 and Kaylee Robin (1,085) at 165. Robin established a composite record at regionals with a 335-pound effort on the bench and Covington’s Lilia Cooper had a 350-pound squat at 123 pounds for another record.
The highest-seeded lifter for Woodlawn of Baton Rouge is No. 2 Kately Reed (630) at 97 pounds. The Panthers also have a pair of No. 3 seeded competitors in Kennedi Kullman (655) at 105 and Jadyn Barner (780) at 123.
St. Scholastica has two lifters at No. 1 with Juliet Gaffney (695) at 114 and Grace Hartdegen (730) at 123. Hartdegen had a 265-pound bench press for a composite record at the regional meet.
Four second-seeded lifters have Grant in the mix with Saydie Wilson (670) at 114, Payton Seward (770) at 132, Ella Sanders (855) at 220, and Maggie Pharis (985) at super heavyweight. Kathryn Gentry (480) is No. 3 at 105 and Audaleigh Carpenter (690) No. 3 at 148.
Church Point and Abbeville have plenty of quality to contend for team championships.
The Lady Bears are paced by four No. 1 seeds in Reaghan Gartman (650) at 105 pounds, Marianna Caffey (610) at 114, A’na Reyes (765) at 148 and Lillian Cortez (800) at 165. Ava’Grace Richard (730) is No. 2 at 123.
Record-setters Khandi Shuford (875) and Brylee Batiste (1,255) are both No. 1s at 123 and 198 pounds, respectively, while Tonie Landry (765) is No. 1 at 181 for the Wildcats.
The combined totals of Shuford and Batiste were compositive records at regional competition.
Buckeye has the No. 1 seed at 97 pounds with Madelyn Marcotte (550), No. 2 at 114 in Kaylee Rayburn (570), and No. 3 at 148 in Roselee Richey (675).
Northlake Christian and D’Arbonne Woods, the defending state champion, combine for eight No. 1 seeds.
The Wolverines’ top-seeded participants are Molly Hutchinson (530) at 97, Eliana Trevino (745) at 132, Taylor Durham (895) at 165, Korynne Engolia (830) at 198 and Emelia Dauterive (895) at 220. Brylie Garris (525) and Bella Hawthorne (765) lead the Timberwolves at 105 and 114 pounds, respectively, along with Brilee Smith (850) at 181.
Holden has balance with No. 1 seeds Brynnlee White (505) at 97 Raievah Craddock (825) at 148, Hannah Kennedy (860) at 198, and Mollie Bailey (1,025) at super heavyweight.
Cedar Creek counters with top-seeded lifters at 105 – Joanie Cannon (540) – and 114 – Markey Jinks (635) – and Kate Harris (775) at 181. Sacred Heart has No. 1 Adeline Launey (870) at 123, No. 2 Aubrey Launey (480) at 97, No. 2 Lily Deshotel (625) at 123, and No. 2 Abby Quibodeaux (760) at 148.
“We’re still in my eyes the best high school powerlifting association in the country in my eyes,” Ryan said. “We have the best quality lifters. We have the biggest numbers overall.”