Eric Perkins is used to putting a lot of weight on his shoulders. It comes with the territory when you’re a state powerlifting champion.

At Saturday’s Class 5A state meet, however, Perkins will have some extra weight to bear in addition to the iron plates he’s lifting. Perkins, a senior, will try to defend his 123-pound state title at the same time he’s trying to carry Vicksburg High to a second straight team championship.

He won’t be alone. The Gators have eight lifters in the meet at Madison Central – enough to challenge for a team title, but only if everyone does well. And as one of their more experienced lifters, Perkins is one they’ll be counting on heavily in their bid for a repeat.

&#8220It’s a lot of pressure. Last year we didn’t have too much of a problem because we had bigger people to carry the smaller people. This year, we don’t have that,” Perkins said.

Indeed, all of the weight falls squarely on the shoulders of Vicksburg’s lightweights. None of their eight lifters in the state meet is over 198 pounds. That makes matchups, strategy, and solid performances crucial to their chances.

Natchez, one of the favorites to win the state title, has several lifters in the heavier weight classes. To have a chance, Vicksburg must rack up points in the lower classes – including some where they have two lifters – and hope it’s enough.

&#8220All of them are going to have to have a good day, but we’re going to have about five that are really key,” Vicksburg assistant coach Jackie Williamson said, adding that the 123-pound class, where Perkins and Brandon Wilson will compete for VHS, is especially crucial. Wilson won the 114-pound state title last year.

&#8220That first and second would really balance us up good and give us some leeway,” Williamson said. &#8220Every event we face up with Natchez is going to be key.”

While the Gators are eyeing a team title, Warren Central is focused on individual glory.

The Vikings only have four lifters in the meet. That might be enough to finish in the top five, but not nearly enough to threaten Natchez or Vicksburg. So the team’s goals, coach Chad McMullin said, have shifted to chasing individual championships.

&#8220Our number one goal, if we don’t have enough to win as a team when we get to this point, is for the seniors to get a medal,” McMullin said. &#8220With four guys, three of them have a legitimate shot to win state. If we think we can do as well as we can do, we can break into the top five.”

In an ironic twist, while all of Vicksburg’s lifters are lightweights, all of WC’s are heavyweights. That could give the Vikings an extra edge. The meet starts at 8 a.m., but the heavyweights don’t lift until the afternoon. That will allow the Vikings to get some extra rest before they step up to the bar.

&#8220We’ll be able to sleep in before we go,” McMullin said. &#8220This is the first year we haven’t had anybody in the lightweight divisions, but it works to their advantage.”

Perhaps Warren Central’s best shot at a state championship comes from senior 308-pounder Mark Wooten. He finished fourth at last year’s state meet, but was suffering from a hernia for much of the powerlifting season.

Now healthy, he’s on a mission for a gold medal and he’ll need all his strength to get it. The totals for the top four 308-pounders at the North and South State meets were within 20 pounds of each other. Wooten does have the top total, with 1,420 pounds, but with so many competitors so close together, one missed lift could keep him from winning.

&#8220I have to have my best meet ever,” Wooten said. &#8220This is what I’ve been working four years for.”