Watts third, Dotson DQ’d at state meet

Published 12:30 am Sunday, April 19, 2015

A season-best performance netted a medal for one Warren Central lifter, while a mysterious injury cost another a shot at gold at the MHSAA Class 6A powerlifting championship Saturday in Jackson.

Senior Derrick Dotson, the odds-on favorite to win in the super heavyweight division, suffered an arm injury just before the deadlifts.

Derrick Dotson

Derrick Dotson

Dotson had squatted 630 pounds and bench pressed 315, but was unable to complete any of his three deadlift attempts and was disqualified.

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Tony Adams of Northwest Rankin went on to win the state title with a total of 1,650 pounds. Bradley Terrell of Jim Hill was second at 1,580 pounds.

Dotson had easily won the North State championship with a total 65 pounds better than his nearest competitor heading into the state meet.

“He got the right side up and then couldn’t even close his left hand,” Warren Central coach Chad McMullin said. “We don’t know if it was a nerve thing or what. Even getting on the bus afterward, he couldn’t pull himself up on the handle. He was very disappointed. The other lifters were in shock, too.”

The good news for Warren Central was the performance of 220-pound junior Caleb Watts. He lifted a total of 1,435 pounds to finish third in his weight class.

Watts put up 575 pounds in the squat, 280 in the bench press, and 580 in the deadlift.

Caleb Watts

Caleb Watts

Gulfport’s Stone Harrison won the 220-pound championship with a total of 1,530 pounds. D’Iberville’s Micah Booker was second at 1,525 pounds.

D’Iberville also won the team championship. Gulfport finished second and Oak Grove was third.

“(Watts) had the best meet he had all season. We just didn’t keep up with D’Iberville and Gulfport,” McMullin said.

In the Class 1A meet, St. Aloysius’ Ben Brown finished fourth in the 308-pound weight class with a total of 1,070 pounds.