Lifters get new home in 2003

By By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
June 19, 2003
A new location should provide the powerlifting event of the State Games of Mississippi the perfect atmosphere for lifting this year.
After holding the competition at the Frank Cochran Center last year, the event will move to its new location at Jeff Anderson Health and Fitness Center.
According to powerlifting commissioner Eddie Sorto, the move should turn out to be beneficial.
The event will get underway on Saturday with a 9:30 a.m. rules meeting and weigh-in, and the actual lifting is set to begin at 10 a.m.
After a successful meet last year, a good crowd is expected once again.
The event is divided into three different lifts. People can participate in bench press, squat or deadlift. Each of the events will be scored separately.
Competitors also may elect to participate in all three in the full meet category. The Overall Best Lifter Award will be presented by a formula to someone in the full meet division.
The cost for entering is $15 per event and $5 for each additional event. The price for full meet is $25. People signing up the day of the event will also have to pay an additional $5 for a spot.
The divisions will be broken up according to weight class and age. There are 12 weight classes for the men and nine classes for the women.
The ages will be broken down into three major divisions. There are four different age groups in the teenage category and four levels in the Masters divisions (age 40 and over).
There will also be an open division for people 20 to 29 years old.
A team division will be set up for groups to compete in. Each team has a maximum of 12 lifters and will cost an additional $25.
The event will also be broken down into two lifting divisions. Lifters may compete in the assisted division or lift with just a lifting belt in the raw division.
The meet will go by the Mississippi High School Activities Association rules. The new MHSAA bench press rules will apply.