The Arkansas High School Powerlifting Association held the 2024 State Championship Competition at the Monticello Middle School Gym on Saturday, March 9, with teams competing in the boys and girls divisions.
The AHSPLA began with the Summer Sizzler on July 23, 2011 and has since grown with several competitions held every year.
the Monticello Billies won their first State Championship in 2019 and repeated in State Championship competitions in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The Billies were the state runner-up in 2012.
In the girls competition, the young ladies have only been competitively competing since 2022 with the Monticello Lady Billies securing the first two State Championships in 2022 and 2023.
After the first State Championship in 2012, there would be a seven year span before active competitions would begin again on a seasonal basis.
Since the four team championship competition in 2012, the event fell to two two teams in 2019 but grew to four teams in 2021 and to three teams in 2022, with just one girls team competing.
With the 2023 competition the event saw a growth to eight teams on the boys side and to four teams in the girls division.
The competitions have three total events with squat, bench press, and deadlift.
Placements are determined by a total weight lifted of the competitors' best lifts over the three events.
The 2024 competition saw the biggest participation turnout in the history of the AHSPLA with around 100 competitors with 9 teams in the boys division and six teams in the girls division.
In the boy’s division, Monticello saw CJ McCray take first place in the 97 lb division with a total weight of 455. McCray would also set a new state record with a 285 lb deadlift.
McCray set a set record at an earlier competition with a 165 lb squat.
In the 123 lb class, Uriah Martin would take a fourth place finish with a total weight of 575.
Mario Meza would take a first place finish in the 132 lb class with a total weight of 685 lbs.
At 145, Tripp Lanehart would place third with 830 lbs.
Monticello had two top five finishers at 165 with Danner Loyd in fifth with 860 and Caleb Ewell in fourth with 905.
In the 181 lb division, Silas Tucker placed fourth with a total weight of 850.
At 198, Brennen Akers was fourth with 940 lbs and at 220, Levi Owens placed fifth with 1030.
Monticello’s Gunner Hale competed at 275 and finished fifth with a total weight of 1010.
Overall, the 2024 AHSPLA State Championship was awarded to Bentonville-West with a point total of 52 points followed by Star City with 31 with Monticello placing third with 28 points.
In the girl’s division, Monticello would place in the top two spots at 148 lbs.
Keonna Tolefree would take the top spot with 590 lbs followed by a second place showing from Demiyah Maxwell with 330 lbs.
Tolefree would set state records in bench with 115 lbs and deadlift with 280 lbs. Her total of 590 lbs was a total weight state record.
Tolefree set the 148 class record for squat on February 17 with 200 lbs.
At 181, Ashtyn Smith would place first with 495 total pounds. The 495 would be a total weight state record. Smith would also set state records with a bench press of 100 lbs and in the deadlift with 250 lbs.
Monticello’s Ka’Dence Lollie would have a second place finish in the 220 class with a total of 390 lbs.
The Monticello Lady Billies would capture their third consecutive AHSPLA State Championship with a total of 24 points. DeQueen would finish second with 15 points after a tiebreaker with Parker’s Chapel with a third place finish.
Monticello athletes hold 16 girls state records and 10 boys state records.
