Maize South Powerlifting took home first place at the state championship in Pittsburg this past weekend. 

Senior Evan Cantu took first in his weight class and brought in ten points for the team. The hardest challenge for Cantu was his final lift.

“Most challenging was to hit the 510 squat to win state for myself and for the whole team,” Cantu said.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Kenna Ellis

Seniors Landon Schumaker, Trey Cornett, Evan Cantu, Steven Suttcliffe, Emilio Albert, Brandon Lee, and Blake McCormick posing with their awards and championship plaque. They took first place overall in their last high school competition

Cantu says powerlifting benefited him both physically and mentally.

“Lifting heavy weights gets me in a good mood every day and I enjoy going to meets with my buddies,” Cantu said.

Cantu hopes the legacy continues after he graduates this year.

“I would like to see it still big,” Cantu said. “It’s important because it has a special bond to us.”

Senior Trey Cornette said it felt awesome to be a part of a state-winning team.

“I was very ecstatic about the team winning state,” Cornette said.

Cornette hopes that the school will recognize the team as a sport more in the upcoming years.

“I hope Maize South acknowledges the sport a little more after we won state as they haven’t acknowledged it very well so far,” Cornette said.

Sophomore Britton Ford broke the state record with his 230 hang clean lift and took first in all lifts for his weight class.

“One thing that helped me win state was the motivation around me,” Ford said.

Freshman Brody Mies was able to make new friendships through his sport.

“Powerlifting benefited me by meeting so much more people around the state and getting to know a lot more people on the team,” Mies said.