Michael Ross of Vicksburg High strains to get his division meet-record 400-pound squat. Ross and the Gators won the division championship for the second straight year. Ross set four meet records in the 123-pound weight class. (The Vicksburg Post/PAT SHANNAHAN)

[02/26/01] One of the smallest lifters in the Warren Central gym shouldered the biggest load for Vicksburg High.

Michael Ross, a 123-pound senior, set four meet records to win his weight class as the Gators pushed away from the pack to win their second straight division championship Saturday.

They scored 60 points, breaking 18 meet records and qualifying 11 for the North State meet at South Panola March 17. The top three finishers in each weight class advance.

The combined weight of Ross’ record lifts 400 pounds (squat), 370 pounds (deadlift) and 230 pounds (bench press) gave him a record total of 1,000 pounds.

The Vikings, in just the third year of their program, finished second with 38 points, nipping Gentry (33) and Greenville (32).

“Looking at what we had coming back, yes, we expected to win it again,” VHS coach Robert Erves said with a chuckle.

Other meet records for VHS’ lifters:

Tavares Hatchett (198-pound class) squatted 425, deadlifted 600 and benched 260 for a total of 1,285 to finish first;

Vance Gray (181) deadlifted 520 and squatted 460 for a total of 1,210 to take first;

Darrell Williams (148) squatted 400 and had a total of 1,080 to give the sophomore first place;

Terrance Collins (220) deadlifted 605 and had a total of 1,480, breaking marks he set as a junior to finish first;

Von Mixon (132) squatted 350 and finished second;

Lorenzo Clark (114), a freshman, benched 170 and took second;

Charles Wilson (super heavyweight) benched 325 and finished third.

Other Gatrs who advanced were Tim Brown, who finished first in the 242-pound class with 1,270 pounds and Anthony Sanders (148), who was second.

Eight Vikings qualified for the North State meet:

Defending 114-pound champion Henry Jackson had a total of 825 pounds to finish first and James Judge took first in the 132-pound class with 1,035 pounds. Jay Barlow (123), Kenny Thompson (220) and Deonte Selvy (super heavyweight) all took second while Brandon Jones (181), Omar Jackson (198) and Danny Robinson (114) all finished third.