Defending state champion Justin Verner dips his hands in a bucket of chalk to combat perspiration.
Verner then stares at the barbell resting on the weight room floor at Columbus High School”s field house. Twelve 45-pound plates and two 35-pound counterparts are stacked like two plates of pancakes. He thinks mean thoughts about people and moments in his life that make him mad — like somebody talking about his mother, or girlfriend, or any other mischievous words or acts.
Suddenly ticked, Verner flaps his arms in a butterfly motion and moves into position. Placing his hands on the bar, he exhales, bends his knees, and in a burst he pulls upward with his legs, arms, chest, back, and shoulders, attempting to dead lift an amount that equals two large refrigerators on a steel pole.
On Saturday, Verner, a junior, hopes to complete squats, bench presses, and dead lifts like that one at the Mississippi High School Activities Association State Powerlifting meet at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson. He believes he has put in enough hours in the weight room to defend his title.
“I work hard, do what I”m supposed to do,” Verner said.
Verner, who will compete in the 242-pound weight class, is one of four Columbus High qualifiers. Senior Ryan McDonald (242 pounds), junior Deon Taylor (181), and sophomore Jake Thomas (308) will join him. Verner is the lone Columbus High competitor with state championship experience. The Falcons finished third last season in Class 6A.
The team”s success this weekend has the opportunity to impact more than just the powerlifting program, which is made up of football players. They represent one of the school”s few athletic teams that has reached the state level in recent years.
“Not many sports at Columbus (High) get a chance to go to state,” said McDonald, who endured a 4-7 football campaign in 2010, “so it”s nice we get to go there and compete.”
All four competitors enter the meet from different perspectives. Verner, a starting center on the football team, wants to leave high school with three state powerlifting championships. His biggest competition might come from McDonald, his workout partner, whose goal is to earn one win against Verner. McDonald”s last chance will come Saturday. He qualified for the state meet last spring, but he injured his back the week before the competition and missed the event.
“Earlier in the year, it kind of worried me because I didn”t want to re-injure it,” said McDonald, an offensive lineman on the football team. “I was like, ”Suck it up, this is my senior year.” ”
Thomas, another offensive lineman, is the largest powerlifter, and a former designated hitter on the baseball team. Months after being recruited in the school hallways by powerlifting coach Brandon Brown, his bench press has improved from 220 to 255 pounds. Pound-for-pound, Taylor is the strongest powerlifter, Brown said. But he also is the smallest to qualify for state.
“Sometimes he gets disappointed he can”t do the things Justin can do,” Brown said. “He”s much bigger, much stronger, but I tell him he”s going to get there. Just keep working.”
Taylor, a defensive end, is aiming to try out running back or outside linebacker next fall.
Verner wants to lift a combined weight of 1,575 pounds — 625 in the squat, 350 in the bench press, and 600 in the dead lift — a personal best.
McDonald, never short of a grin, is more cerebral. He doesn”t have a figure in mind other than a number that will be more than the top scorer, who could be Verner.
“We push each other,” McDonald said. “It”s all friendly. I have to deal with him in my ear every once in a while. Just hoping to show him up at state this year.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
