Some time last year Jon Cates had an idea. The Noxapater coach took it to principal Chet Wilkes, and a girls powerlifting team became a reality.
“We went from seven girls that first year to 16 this year,” Cates said. “They (the girls) want to compete just as badly as they guys do. They haven’t been really lifting all their lives so its new and different for them. I think there is a good future in this sport for the girls at Noxapater.”
Last year, in just the first year of the program, one of the lifters — Raleigh Grace Parker — signed a scholarship to lift for Blue Mountain College.
“I think that showed the girls they could achieve something special,” Cates said.
Although the Coronavirus pandemic led to the cancelation of the MHSAA State Powerlifting Championships this year, five Lady Tigers qualified for the event by finishing in the top three in South State.
Kelli Thomas was first in the 220-pound classification, while Kaliyah Moore took the top spot in the 181-pound class.
Samantha Todd was second in the 97-pound class and Kaylan Brown was second in the 132-pound class, while Jodie Wilkes claimed third in the 123-pound classification.
