Wilkinson County captured the first-ever Natchez High Powerlifting Invitational Friday, held at the Natchez High Multi-Purpose Building.

The powerlifting meet was the first high school meet to be held in Natchez.

&uot;It was something new for the kids,&uot; said Natchez High football coach Elbert &uot;Mo&uot; Lyles, who was filling in for first-year Natchez powerlifting coach Joe Johnson, who was ill in the hospital. &uot;I think we showed that we can host district, South State and possibly State in the future. We feel like we have the facilities now.&uot;

Wilkinson County finished with 64 points, grabbing first places in seven of 11 divisions.

Lyles, who began a powerlifting program three years ago at Natchez, started the powerlifting program at Wilkinson County when he was head football coach from 1988-95.

&uot;I think once you inbed something in the kids, it filters down to the next kids,&uot; Lyles said. &uot;I feel like Natchez is headed that way and Joe is doing a great job with it.&uot;

Natchez High finished second with 33 points, while Franklin County and Cathedral followed with 32 and 29 points, respectively.

Getting first places for Natchez were Israel Calvitt in the 198-pound division with 1,220 points. Calvitt squatted 460 pounds, benched 295 and deadlifted 465.

For Cathedral, Brandon Gremillion won the 114-pound division with 585 points, squatting 195, benching 135 and deadlifting 255.

Patrick Biglane of Cathedral won the 123-pound class with 630 points, benching 175, squatting 200 and deadlifting 255.

Cathedral’s Bill Reasor won the 242-pound class with 835 points, benching 275, squating 580 and deadlifting 835.

Natchez and Cathedral’s powerlifting teams will be competing in district competition next Saturday. Natchez will compete at Madison-Ridgeland High, while Cathedral will travel to Gulfport.