By Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek’s boys captured their seventh state title in powerlifting on Wednesday as the Cougars ran away from the field in Lafayette for the Division V championship.
Lawson Lillo, Carter Lewis and Landon Amidon each claimed their respective weight classes as head coach Jacob Angevines Cougars won their first state title since 2021.
The Cougars scored 53 points to defeat Ascension Catholic (37), Sacred Heart (30) and Catholic-PC (25) who were the nearest competitors.
“Today was a moment we have been waiting for since 2021,” said Angevine. “This group of boys is one of the most selfless groups of people I’ve ever been around. They embodied the scripture of 1 Corinthians 12:12 that I read to them on Tuesday night.
“Every single one of them had a job to do. Our mission was to finish. We knew if all 11 did their job and finished, we knew that our goal would be accomplished. I’m so happy and so proud of them.”
Lillo captured the 181-pound weight class individual title with a three-lift total of 1525, besting Ascension Catholic’s Mace Melancon by 120 pounds. He was named the Most Outstanding Lifter on the heavy platform.
Lewis won the 189-pound weight class with a total of 1605 pounds, defeating Ascension Catholic’s Thomas Nizzo by 175 pounds.
Amidon joined his two Cougar teammates by totaling 1405 pounds to claim the 242-pound weight class. He edged St. Mary’s Mason Mathis by 90 pounds.
Blake Wade (920 pounds in the 132-weight class), Wyatt Gremellion (1050 pounds in the 148-weight class), Brett Johnson (1400 pounds in the 220-weight class), Conner Rolen (1235 pounds in the 275-weight class) and Kaden Williams (1255 pounds in the Super Heavy Weight class) all finished second in their respective groups.
Asa Singleton (750 pounds in 114-weight class) also earned a podium finish by coming in third in his weight class.
Aidan Crosby finished 6th in the 148-weight class with 995 pounds, while Blake Robinson was 5th in the 242-weight class with 1275 pounds.
Cedar Creek now owns the most state powerlifting titles out of any Class A school in Louisiana.
Team scores: 1. Cedar Creek, 53. 2. Ascension Catholic, 37. 3. Sacred Heart, 30. 4. Catholic-PC, 25. 5. St. Mary’s, 19. 6. Delhi Charter, 15. 7. Holden, 11, 8. Slaughter Charter, 10. 9. Elton, 10. Vermilion Catholic, 5. T11. Evans, 4. T11. Rapides, 4. T13. Central Catholic, 3. T13. First Baptist, 3. T13. Northwood Lena, 3. 16. Central Private, 3. T17. East Iberville, 2. T17. St. John, 2. T19. Castor, 1. T19. North Central, 1. T19. Rapides, 1.
Top 3 individuals
114: 1. Kaden Sauseda, Dehli Charter, 335-170-315-820. 2. Raphael Melancon, Ascension Catholic, 330-120-340-790. 3. Asa Singleton, Cedar Creek, 280-140-330-750.
123: 1. Jesse Johnson, Sacred Heart, 400-180-385-965. 2. Alex Estilette, Sacred Heart, 245-135-335-715. 3. Haies Davenport, Vermilion Catholic.
132: 1. Taylor Purvis, Holden, 350-230-400-980. 2. Blake Wade, Cedar Creek, 355-200-365-920. 3. Bryce Bergeron, Evans, 315-200-405-920.
148: 1. Grant Dietz, Ascension Catholic, 455-250-425-1130. 2. Wyatt Gremillion, Cedar Creek, 400-240-410-1050. 3. Todd Gibson, Holden, 385-245-405-1035.
165: 1. Danerian Actlis, Elton, 530-340-660-1530. 2. Alex Pitre, Sacred Heart, 435-285-405-1125. 3. Beau St. Romain, Sacred Heart, 405-255-425-1085.
181: 1. Lawson Lillo, Cedar Creek, 575-420-530-1525. 2. Mace Melancon, Ascension Catholic, 575-270-560-1405. 3. Cooper Laviolette, Catholic-PC, 475-295-520-1290.
198: 1. Carter Lewis, Cedar Creek, 585-405-615-1605. 2. Thomas Nizzo, Ascension Catholic, 545-300-585-1430. 3. Jackson Jewell, Catholic-PC, 530-290-515-1335.
220: 1. Drake Griffin, St. Mary’s, 500-400-505-1405. 2. Brett Johnson, Cedar Creek, 535-395-470-1400. 3. Carter Walker, Catholic-PC, 540-290-470-1300.
242: 1. Landon Amidon, Cedar Creek, 545-350-510-1405. 2. Mason Mathis, St. Mary’s, 520-305-490-1315. 3. Kolton Lafleur, Sacred Heart, 485-340-470-1295.
275: 1. Jayden Lavespere, Slaughter Charter, 560-390-615-1565. 2. Conner Rolen, Cedar Creek, 530-335-480-1235. 3. Keyshon Byrd, Rapides, 520-210-505-1235.
SHW: 1. Aiden Paine, Ascension Catholic, 605-355-405-1365. 2. Kaden Williams, Cedar Creek, 510-305-440-1255. 3. Freddie Geason, Ascension Catholic, 460-250-515-1225.
