It was going to take more than a cold to stop Carl Sims from his yearlong quest for a state powerlifting championship.

The Warren Central senior, fighting a head cold that limited some of his attempts, totaled 1,560 pounds in the squat, bench press and dead lift Saturday to win the 275-pound Class 6A championship at the MHSAA state powerlifting meet in Jackson.

It was the first state title for Sims, who was the runner-up by five pounds last year. He won his fifth individual title in as many meets this season. He outlifted his closest competitor at the state meet by 90 pounds.

Sims, who has signed to play football at Holmes Community College, squatted 610 pounds, benched 350, and dead lifted 600.

“We tried for 675 in the squat, but he could barely breathe when he went down with it,” WC coach Chad McMullin said. “He’s worked tremendously hard for the last 12 months, and he got the job done. Just a superhuman effort by him.”

Sims was the only lifter from Warren Central who qualified for the state meet. His winning performance allowed WC to finish 10th in the team standings.

Vicksburg High had two lifters finish fourth in their respective weight classes in the Class 5A meet.

Shawn’derrick Wilson totaled 1,155 pounds in the 198-pound division, while Greg Vaughn lifted 1,430 in fourth in the 275-pound class.