In his 1856 poem “Maud Muller,” John Greenleaf Whittier wrote “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest of these: 'It might have been.”
The poem is about lost love, but it could apply to athletic teams, such as McAdams girls powerlifting. McAdams easily won the South State Class I meet for 1A and 2A schools with 46 points to 32 for runner-up Noxapater. That made the Lady Bulldogs a strong contender at the state tournament that probably will not be held.
The Mississippi High School Activities Association has not officially canceled the state meet. But it will not go on as scheduled Apr. 18, and with every passing day as the coronavirus pandemic worsens in Mississippi, it becomes less likely that the meet will be held.
“I am proud of the Lady Bulldogs' fight and resiliency this season,” said coach Kenneth Nelson. “We started out awful, finishing last as a team (in a meet) and none of our lifters placed in their weight class. We didn't have a lot who tried out due to uncertainty and some of the others couldn't endure the workouts. But the 10 who made it to district are the cream of the crop. They are the toughest girls in the school.”
Introducing the eight lifters who qualified for the state meet by finishing in the top three in the weight classes at South State:
Amber Harmon was first at the 105-pound weight class. She had successful lifts of 170 pounds for the squat, 70 for the bench press and 205 in the dead lift, for a total of 445 pounds. She was the only competitor in her weight class with successful lifts in all three categories.
Shawnessy Martin won at 165. She had lifts of 275 in the squat, 100 bench press and 305 in the dead lift for a total of 680 pounds.
Daniell Smith was first at 242 with a 280-pound squat, a 110-pound bench press and a 255-pound dead lift. Her total of 645 was 90 pounds more than runner-up Victoria Trosclair of St. Patrick.
The Lady Bulldogs also had five lifters finish second:
Kiyah Harmon was runner-up at 123 with a total of 475 pounds.
Kristal Wilson was second at 132 totaling 560. That fell 20 pounds short of the winning total by Kaylan Brown of Noxapater.
Iyanla Malone totaled 560 to finish second at 148.
Dermeria Moore was runner-up to Martin at 165 with a 445 total.
Jamirakle Nash totaled 555 at 220, five pounds less than the winning total by Kelli Thomas of Noxapater.
“The girls have answered the bell in the weight room engaging in football style workouts,” Nelson said. “I'm excited about working with them. Even though the season was made to come to halt, I'm excited about the team coming back next year graduating only two seniors.”
Malone is the only senior among the eight lifters who qualified for state, the other seven are sophomores or younger. Amber Harmon is a seventh grader, Martin a freshman, Smith an eighth grader, Kiyah Harmon an eighth grader, Wilson a freshman, Moore a sophomore and Nash a freshman.
The McAdams boy team dominated the Region 3-1A meet, winning seven of the 11 weight classes and qualifying 10 lifters for the South State meet, which has not been held.
