Two parish powerlifters won state championships and were successful in their competitive class at the 2010 Louisiana High School Powerlifting Association Division I Boys State Meet for Classes 3A-5A held Saturday at Central High.

St. Paul’s juniors Alfred Johnson and Mickey Johnson both won state titles, while SPS’ Kurt Bradbury and Slidell’s Jesse Toups took top spots in Class 5A.

In 4A, Salmen’s Evin Claude, Ben Ryen and Josh Adams finished first in their class.

St. Paul’s Power Lifters were recognized at Brother Raymond Bulliard’s Principal’s Assembly for their accomplishments at Saturday’s LHSPLA Boys State Meet at Central High in Baton Rouge. Varsity power lifters pictured from left, first row: Wade Copeland, Nicholas Anzalone, Ty Timphony, Parker Galloway and Kurt Bradbury; second row: Korey Miller, Tyler Tourelle, Mickey Johnson and Grant Theo; third row: Faculty coach Joe Dickens. Alfred Johnson. (Photo by Karen Hebert)

Mickey Johnson, a super heavyweight (275 pounds and above) won the overall title at 1,560. He broke his own state record with a 450-pound bench press. He lifted 610 in the squat and added a 500-pound deadlift.

Johnson, who also stars for the Wolves’ football team, talked about the state meet.

“I thought I could have done better, but finishing out in first place breaking my own bench record twice in one day was good. It was a fun day with the team finishing in fourth place in a close competition,” Mickey Johnson said.

“I was able to get a good night’s rest before the meet so I felt good. I just stuck to my game plan of hard work. It’s more than just lifting weights. We do a lot of outside work running along with core work (sit ups and crunches). The workouts are intense in the weight room,” the super heavy weight said.

SPS’ Alfred Johnson captured the overall title in the 181-pound weight class, tallying a 1,310 total. He squatted 500 pounds, while benching 285 and deadlifting 525.

Alfred Johnson talked about his title.

“It feels good to be a state champion. It’s hard to describe. It kind of caught me by surprise, but it was exciting. We had a very good team effort and we all just wanted it really bad. We came up short of winning a state championship, but we are all still proud of our performance,” Alfred Johnson said.

“I credit a lot of my success to training all summer long with Jesse (Kellum). My squat and deadlift totals were what I would have expected, but I would have liked to have done a little better in the bench,” said the 181-pound competitor, who established a personal best total at state.

Also for St. Paul’s, Bradbury was runner-up in the meet, but garnered first in Class 5A, competing at 123 pounds. He set the state record for the bench, pressing 270 pounds, while establishing his personal best totaling 1,010 pounds (squat-335 and deadlift-405). He captured his second consecutive Class 5A title after winning last year at 114 pounds.

Church Point’s Gabe Smith took the 123s meet title with 1,065 pounds.

Bradbury, a senior captain for the Iron Wolves, talked about the meet.

“It was pretty cool winning my class for the second time. Being a team captain, I wanted to do what I could for my team and lead by example,” Bradbury said.

“The powerlifting tournaments are getting bigger and bigger. The competition level is definitely rising,” Bradbury added.

St. Paul’s fourth-year powerlifting coach Jesse Kellum talked about his team’s close fourth place performance.

“We were one point away from finishing third, two points away from second and I think it was four or five points away from first. We had three state champs and we had two guys break records in the bench press (Bradbury and Johnson),” Kellum said.

Kellum, a Covington resident, said it is very rewarding to be able to work with such quality student-athletes.

“I like to work with the athletes being able to turn them into high caliber athletes. If I have a few years with them I have an opportunity to help make them better. They guys at St. Paul’s that I deal with are really good kids and they are disciplined. We work on that all the time and being consistent with their training,” Kellum added.

Kellum said St. Paul’s has a really good program and continues to get better and better. The Iron Wolves, who return 10 of 11 lifters next year, are focused on bringing home a 2011 state championship.

“We have everybody coming back with the exception of Kurt Bradbury so we should be really good. I’m really excited about next year. We have a lot of really good young guys, who are waiting in the wings. Eleven guys can get points for your team and next year it will be a fight to make the top 11,” the coach added.

Kellum, no stranger to the sport of powerlifting, has competed for 31 years. He is a 10-time world champion in powerlifting and has held 15 different world records. He still holds the state record in the bench press at 330 pounds in the 148-pound weight class, which is the oldest on the books (1983).

SHS’ Toups, a member of the 132s, finished fifth overall, but tops in 5A. He totaled 935 with a 335 squat, 180 bench and 415 deadlift. Church Point’s Von Duplechain won with 1,130 total.

In 4A, Salmen’s Claude, competing in the 132s, combined to lift a 980 total. He squatted 340, benched 220 and deadlifted 420 to finish third overall.

Ryen, participating in the 220s, was first in Class 4A at 1,210. He squatted 435, benched 275 and deadlifted 500. West Monroe’s Jacob Tyson was the 200-winner at 1,495.

Adams, who is the 242s, tallied 1,150. He squatted 445, while benching 285 and deadlifting 420. Marksville’s Brennan Richie took the weight class at 1,510.

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 4A team won first place, but a Class 5A participant got second. Both would receive first-place points, but the Class 5A lifter would be declared the runner-up.

St. Paul’s finished fourth with 27 points, while Northshore (24) was fifth in a 17-team field.

Pineville (41) is the Class 5A state champion, followed by West Monroe (34) and Natchitohes Central (28). Also locally, Slidell (7) tied for eighth with Walker. Covington, Fontainebleau and Mandeville competed, but did not score.

In Class 4A, Lutcher (37) won the team title in the 12-team field followed by Alexandria (33), Salmen (28), while Pearl River (12) earned a sixth place finish.

Listed below are the rest of the local results with their overall finish:

114: 2. Matt Oaks, NHS, 265 squat, 180 bench and 300 deadlift, 745 total.

123: 7. Andrew Doung, NHS, 290 squat, 155 bench and 335 deadlift, 780 total; 15. Nick Canella, SHS, 225 squat, 135 bench and 295 deadlift, 655 total.

132: 10. Grant Theo, SPS, 300 squat, 180 bench and 380 deadlift, 860 total.

148: 3. Korey Miller, SPS, 405 squat, 290 bench and 430 deadlift, 1,125 total; 10. Adam Perrone, SHS, 390 squat, 205 bench and 405 deadlift, 1,000 total; 12. Jaron Adams, SAL, 320 squat, 215 bench and 405 deadlift, 940 total; 13. Sam Tardo, SAL, 340 squat, 210 bench and 380 deadlift, 930 total; 16. Tyler Gioe, NHS, 305 squat, 205 bench and 365 deadlift, total 875.

165: 5. Matt Miller, NHS, 415 squat, 290, bench and 480 deadlift, 1,185 total; 9. Wesley Galloway, SPS, 400 squat, 260 bench and 460 deadlift, 1,120 total; 11. Justin Agar, SHS, 380 squat, 235 bench and 465 deadlift, 1,080 total; 17. Carson Songy, NHS, 295 squat, 265 bench and 440 deadlift, 1,000; 24. Philip Hano, PRHS, 350 squat, 185 bench and 350 deadlift, 885 total.

181: 2. Eugene Young, NHS, 475 squat, 315 bench and 515 deadlift, 1,305 total; 16. (tie) Dylan Price, CHS, 375 squat, 255 bench and 385 deadlift, 1,015 total.

198: 7. Mitchell Blaise, SPS, 430 squat, 305 bench and 475 deadlift, 1,210 total; 13. Kyle Bordelon, CHS, 440 squat, 220 bench and 390 deadlift, 1,050 total.

220: 2. Ray Brandhurst, NHS, 535 squat, 430 bench and 525 deadlift, 1,490 total; 10. Tyler Tourelle, SPS, 505 squat, 300 bench and 425 deadlift, 1,230 total; 13. Philip Haik, PRHS, 435 squat, 275 bench and 485 deadlift, 1,195 total; 16. Daniel Larocca, CHS, 490 squat, 235 bench and 450 deadlift, 1,175 total; 17. Claude Schick, SAL, 410 squat, 315 bench and 440 deadlift, 1,165; 21. Aaron Davis, PRHS, 225 squat, 215 bench and 315 deadlift, 755 total.

275: 2. Terangi Phifer, NHS, 645 squat, 380 bench and 575 deadlift, 1,600 total; 5. Duane Steen, PRHS, 505 squat, 404 bench and 500 deadlift, 1,410 total.