Four Northshore powerlifters Erin Johnson, Jordin Perez, Jessica Fair and Katie Illg took top spots in Class 5A, helping their team to a runner-up finish in the 2010 LHSPLA Division I Girls State Meet held Saturday at Central High for Classes 3A-5A.

Northshore finished in second place with 45 points to Natchitohes Central, who won the state championship with 49 points. West Monroe (44) took third in the nine-team field. Slidell participated, but did not score. Port Allen won Class 3A and Lutcher was best in 4A.

“The girls did extremely well. I had 10 out of 11 place in the top 5 (of Class 5A),” Northshore coach Christian Munson said. “As a team, they did better than I expected. It was really a three-horse race between us, Natchitohes Central and West Monroe. We lifted as well as we could. I’m proud of them. Four of my seniors Erin Johnson, Katie Illg, Elena Rudiger and Jordin Perez have lifted with me for at least three years. I’m just proud they did excellent. The seven other girls coming back are freshmen and sophomores, so the future is bright.” Individually, Johnson topped Class 5A in the 97-pound weight class and third overall for the meet. Johnson lifted a total of 510 pounds with a 205 squat and deadlift to go with a 100-pound bench. Ellender’s Kelly Naquin won with 585 total.

Perez topped Class 5A in the 105s and was runner-up overall, totaling 590. She squatted 255 points, while benching 105 and deadlifting 230. Lutcher’s Morgam Bleakley was first at 690.

Fair was best in 5A at 600 total. She squatted 215 points, while benching 125 and deadlifting 260. Ellender’s Margaret Triche was the champion with 685.

Illg topped 5A with a 720 total. She squatted 255 pounds, benched 130 and deadlifted 335. Lutcher’s Kari Cockburn was first with 785.

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.

Listed below local 3A-5A lifters that tallied with their overall finish:

97: 7. Julia Swigart, NHS, 155 squat, 95 bench and 195 deadlift, 435 total.

105: 8. Kayli Alphonso, NHS, 185 squat, 110 bench and 230 deadlift, 525 total.

114: 8. Shelby Hoppmeyer, NHS, 175 squat, 90 bench and 195 deadlift, 460 total.

132: 5. Natasha Bourgeois, NHS, 185 squat, 115 bench and 220 deadlift, 520 total.

165: 3. Elena Rudiger, NHS, 305 squat, 180 bench and 295 deadlift, 780 total; 9. Jessica Finch, NHS, 230 squat, 110 bench and 215 deadlift, 555 total.