Farmerville High School won the Class 2A state powerlifting title, edging out Pope John Paul II 58-52 at Central High Baton Rouge.

PJP coach Daniel Hanlon said his club closed a big gap from when the pre-meet seeds came out.

“I think they had them beating us by like 16 or 15 points. We closed the gap and lost by six points. We scored 52 and they scored 58,” Hanlon said.

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He added that the Jaguars had four players finished in the first place among 2A lifters.

“Congratulations to those guys that came in first place and to our boys, which closed a huge gap. It’s a big success for them, not only coming runners up, but closing that big of a margin was pretty big for us,” Hanlon said.

Participants were competing for individual and team honors. The team portion went by classification, while individuals were going against everybody. For example, if a member of a Class 1A team won first place, but a Class 2A participant got second. Both would receive first-place points, but the Class 2A lifter would be declared the runner-up.

Northlake Christian School tied Iota for third at 17, followed by Pickering (13), Episcopal (11), St. Charles Catholic (8) and Runnels (5). St. Thomas Aquinas and Red River (3) knotted for ninth and Evangel (1) was 11th.

Delhi Charter captured the Class 1A title with 41 points, while False River Academy was runner-up at 38. Archbishop Hannan (1) took ninth.

Teams received points by where they finished. Seven was awarded for first place, while it was five for second, three for third, two for fourth and one for fifth.

Pope John Paul II had two individual state champions in Matt DeVeer and Austin Puntila.

DeVeer took first place in the 114-pound weight class lifting a total of 690 pounds. He squatted 245, while benching 155 and deadlifting 280. Teammate Evan Labat was just off the lead at 680. He squatted 245 and like DeVeer, he benched 155 and deadlifted 280.

Puntila captured the 123s with a 790 total. He finished with a 290 squat, benched 165 and deadlifted 335.

Northlake Christian junior Tyler Clark was named the Outstanding Lifter after winning it at the regional meet. Clark captured the 181s with a 1,310 total. He squatted 495, while benching 315 and deadlifting 500.

Clark, who also won a state title last year, said it was a tough competition.

“Actually I didn’t do as good as I did at the regionals (1,365 pounds). It’s pretty cool being a two-time state champion. Powerlifting is something that I just kind of picked up when my teammate Dallas Swan came to Northlake. He powerlifted and got me involved,” Clark said.

Clark, who also plays baseball and football for the Wolverines, described himself as a consistent lifter.

“You really can’t miss workouts. It throws off your whole cycle and rhythm of what you are doing so you have to stay consistent to what you are doing. You have to be disciplined with your workouts to get stronger and to learn the technique. You have to have a lot of patience to learn all the stuff,” Clark added.

Clark said he likes working out and considers himself a tough competitor.

NCS freshman Dallas Swan, who earned a second place finish at 132 pounds, talked about the state meet.

“I had to go up against two seniors, one from Farmerville and one from Pope John Paul. It was great to finish third as a team. Once they called our names for third place, it was a great feeling. Without me taking second place, we wouldn’t have finished third so I felt it was a big accomplishment for my team,” Swan said.

Swan said he started lifting when he was 11 and competed in the Junior Olympics when he was 12, finishing first in Disneyworld.

“Ever since then I have always liked competing. I love the training and enjoy working out. I’m glad I got Tyler (Clark) involved. He’s now a two-time state champion and I’m confident he’ll win again next year,” Swan added.

Swan said it is neat with both of them being catchers on the Wolverines’ defending Class 1A state championship baseball team.

NCS freshman Landon Lyon earned a third place finish in the 123-pound category.

Farmerville’s Chris Martin (1,055) took the 132s, while Hanson Memorial’s Charles Uze (1,210) topped the 148s, Delhi’s Devontae Jackson (1,140) was first in the 165s and Farmerville’s Jaquinton Braggs (1,365) won the 198s.

Delhi Charter’s Randy Julian (1,320) captured a title in the 220s, while Farmerville’s Eric Loys (1,350) was champion of the 242s, Delhi’s Aaron Steed (1,410) captured the 275s and Farmerville’s Alex Lavalle (1,500) took the super heavyweight. The super heavyweight is 220 and one-quarter pounds and above.

Also finishing in the top five locally:

132: 2. Swan Dallas, NCS, 360 squat, 210 bench, 375 deadlift, 945 total; 3. Dakota Davis, PJP, 310 squat, 190 bench, 380 deadlift, 880 total.

148: 2. Ryan Cosse, PJP, 435 squat, 240 bench, 460 deadlift, 1,135 total; 4. Kevin Oakes, PJP, 400 squat, 250 squat, 405 deadlift, 1,055 total.

198: 3. Matt Bolgiano, PJP, 445 squat, 305 bench, 490 deadlift, 1,240 total.

220: 2. Christian Bruhn, PJP, 455 squat, 325 bench, 525 deadlift, 1,305 total.

242: 4. Chris Cilluffa, HAN, 450 squat, 260 bench, 460 deadlift, 1,170 total.

Super heavyweight: 2. R.J. Barba, PJP, 430 squat, 300 bench, 600 deadlift, 1,330 total.