With a team score of 40 points, the South Pontotoc Cougars beat out Aberdeen (31), Mooreville (20) and Independence (12), to take second place behind Nettle-ton (60) at Saturday’s Region2-3A Powerlifting Meet hosted by Nettleton.

The individual scoring totals are compiled from their best lift in each of three events; the squat, the bench press and the deadlift.

In the event of a tie, the medal goes to the lighter lifter.

The top three in each class qualify for the next level.

Coach Roger Chism’s team of 11 lifters that made it out to the regionals have qualified eight — one first place finisher, four second place finishers and three that finished in third place — to advance to the North State Meet at Nettleton on Saturday, March 6.

“Eight out of eleven ... that’s not bad,” said Cougar head coach Roger Chism, while noting that a couple of his student athletes that likely would have qualified and helped the team score were unable to attend the meet.

The Cougars didn’t have lifters competing in the 123 and 132 lb. classes on Saturday.

“That hurt us a little bit, but the guys we had lifted very well and I was very proud of them.”

• Finishing in first place in the 181 lb. class with a total weight lift of 1,035 lbs. was sophomore Jay Wade.

• With a total weight lift of 710 lbs., also in the 181 lb. class, was sophomore Dustin Ivy who finished second.

• Sophomore Matt Bailey, with a total weight lift of 690 lbs., finished second in the 148 lb. class.

• Finishing second in the 220 lb. class was freshman Rico High with a total weight lift of 1,085 lbs.

• Sophomore Nathan Dowdy finished second in the 275 lb. class with a total weight lift of 1,175 lbs. Notably, Dowdy was only 15 lbs. behind Nettleton’s Brandon Brunson who finished first.

• Finishing third in the 220 lb. class was freshman Tyler Lindsey with a total weight lift of 905 lbs.

• Eighth grader Rodney Parrish, with a total weight lift of 1,110 lbs., finished third in the 242 lb. class.

• With a total weight lift of 1,120 lbs., freshman Alex Marion finished third in the 275 lb. class.

“Dowdy was leading the 275 lb. class, but had a bad deadlift,” Coach Chism explained.

“He came in second, but should have won it.

“If he could have lifted 450 lbs, he would have won, but we had to attempt a weight (435) that we were sure he could do to get the points.

“We had to have those points.

“Overall, we competed well on Saturday,” he added, while noting the youth — no seniors and one junior — of the squad.

“Our meet at North Pontotoc helped us and this one at Nettleton has helped us even more.

“We should even be better at North Half.”