A premature end to a sports season is difficult for the athletes, and that is especially true when it is shaping up as a season to remember. Such is the case for powerlifting at McAdams. The girls and boys teams were both enjoying banner seasons that might be over.
The girls team easily won the South State meet for Class I (1A and 2A schools), finishing with 46 points to 32 for runner-up Noxapater. The boys were equally impressive in dominating the Region 3-1A meet, winning seven of 11 events and finishing with 68 points, 29 more than runner-up Leake County. The boys qualified 10 lifters for the 1A South State meet, which has not been held due to the state canceling public schools until Apr. 17 and the Mississippi High School Activities Association canceling sports and other activities until the same date.
MHSAA is still hoping to conduct a state championship when and if schools reopen. “Right now we are in a wait and see,” said MHSAA executive director Don Hinton.
If there is a championship it will not be April 18, as originally scheduled, and probably not at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. Hinton said if schools reopen Apr. 20, one week would be needed for practice, North and South meets would have to be completed before a state championship could be held and the Coliseum probably would not be available at another date.
“Right now, we still have the sport on the agenda,” Hinton said. “It may be at nine different sites at high schools that are powerlifting schools, the ones that help us with North and South and division championships.”
Prior to the powerlifting state championship moving to the Coliseum, meets were held at high schools, including Madison Central and Pearl. It was moved to the Coliseum because it is large enough to hold all nine championships – six for boys and three for girls – at the same time. That would not be possible at a high school.
McAdams coach Kenneth Nelson said his boys team has a chance to win a state championship. “We probably would have won South State looking at the numbers.” He added that it probably would be between McAdams and North State champion Okolona for the state title.
One of McAdams' top lifters is Tromone Bailey, a junior who is a fast learner. In his first year competing in the sport, Bailey won the 3-1A 165-pound weight class. He was successful with a 390-pound squat, a 205-pound bench press and a 405-pound deadlift for a total of 1,000 pounds. That was 150 pounds more than runner-up John Stokes of Nanih Waiya.
Bailey is also a standout in football as the Bulldogs top runner in the fall with 140 carries for 790 yards, and 8.4 average. As a linebacker, he had 25 tackles, three sacks and four fumble recoveries.
“Tromone is without a doubt the most improved player on the football teams and the powerlifting team,” said Nelson, who also coaching football, “After hardly playing at all his freshman and sophomore years, he led the Bulldogs in touchdowns his junior year. In his first year powerlifting, he is already the district champ in the 165-pound wight class and is on pace to be the South State champ in the same weight class.
“Truly an unsung athlete for us, he has responded well to the hard coaching and has flourished beyond expectations. He is a lunch pail, blue collar type of guy, yes sir, no sir all the time, will do anything you ask of him. A model student in the classroom.”
Bailey attributes his powerlifting success to Nelson's coaching and hard work. “We work hard every day in the wight room.”
He suffered an ankle injury in football and it still hurts at times, but said “It really doesn't bother me when I'm lifting weights.”
McAdams' other boys individual winners at the 3-1A meet are Jimmy Wilson at the 132 weight class, Johntavis Rimmer (148), Likraius Ward (181), Tayveon Rimmer (198), Jaylan Perteet (242) and Malique Greer (275).
McAdams girls who qualified for the state meet: Amber Harmon (105), Kiyah Harmon (123), Kristal Wilson (132), Iyanla Malone (148), Shawnessy Martin (165), Dermeria Moore (165), Jamirakle Nash (220) and Daniell Smith (242)
