JACKSON – New Albany, in its third year of boys powerlifting, had never taken a boys competitor to the MHSAA state powerlifting meet. With a goal to change that this year, New Albany boys coach Ron Price carried five guys to the 2010 meet Saturday at the Mississippi Coliseum. The Bulldogs, who also sent six girls to the meet, left with two second place finishes and a third.

“It’s been our challenge all year to get a guy to Jackson and we were fortunate enough to send five,” Price said. “Every one of them came today and left nothing on the table. I’m very proud and hopefully our program is headed in the right direction.”

Luke Foley finished second in the Class 4A 242-pound class and Shawn Smith finished second in the 220-pound class. Trent Fryar finished third in the Super Heavyweight class.

It was the Commodores of Lafayette, however, winning the 4A team state title, edging Itawamba AHS by one point, 24-23.

In the Class II girls competition, featuring Class 4A schools, Lafayette finished third, followed by Pontotoc in fourth and then New Albany in fifth.

Even though they finished third in the state behind second-place Bogue Chitto and first-place Coffeeville, the Seminoles of Smithville have to be proud of their efforts.

Class 1A Smithville left with two first place finishes out of its five competitors. J.T. Pitts finished first in the 123-pound class, Jake McClary first in the 275-pound class

“A lot of hard work goes into this,” Pitts said. “Coach (Bubba) Tacker’s workout put you through it.”

Pontotoc left with four first place medals. Boys coach Ben Ashley carried two guys and left with two top finishes. Devonta Montgomery finished first in the 242-pound class, Randall Crayton first in the 181-pound class.

For the Pontotoc girls, two firsts as well. Ashlee Grisham finished first in the 105-pound class and Jamie McEwen first in the 123-pound class.

Rounding out the team competition

The Kossuth boys finished fifth in Class 3A, while the Nettleton girls finished second in the Class I competition.

The West Point and Oxford boys finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in Class 5A.

In the Class III girls competition, Oxford came in ninth.

Tupelo came in fifth in the Class 6A boys competition.