Led by three first-place finishes, the Center Roughrider powerlifting team captured top honors in its first meet of the season last Thursday, claiming the Huntington Meet with 43 points.
Melvin Suell, Justin Lovett and Kevinski Pitts led the Center lifters, who also posted two second-place finishes, a pair of third-places, two fourth-place finishes and a two fifth-place efforts at the meet.
Center will be at home for its second meet of the season on Thursday. The event is set to begin at approximately 4:45 p.m. in Roughrider Gymnasium. The admission cost is $3 for adults and $2 for students. The 'Riders and Lady Riders will then travel to Diboll on Thursday, Feb. 10, and be at Bullard on Feb. 19.
Pitts captured top honors in the 220-lb. class, lifting a total of 1,305 pounds in the bench press, squad and dead lift. Pitts' teammate, Aaron Liker, was second in the class, 85 pounds behind Pitts with a total of 1,220 pounds.
Lovett powered his way to the title in the 148-lb. class, lifting a total of 1,060 pounds. Center's Jatarvis Jackson was fourth in the class with 925 pounds.
Suell took top honors in the 123-lb. class, living a total of 795 pounds. Roughrider Brian Ruiz was in the class with 505 pounds.
In the 165-lb. class, Center's K.J. Garrett was the second-place finisher with 985 total pounds. Kianis Williams was fifth in the 181-lb. class with a total of 925 pounds in the three lifts. Nathan Sears came through with a third-place finish in the 198-lb. class with 1,095 pounds. BriDarian Dodd of Center was fourth in the 242-lb. class with 1,140 pounds and Jevaris Rankin placed fifth with 1,105 pounds.
Other Center male athletes competing at the meet included Moises Arrajo and Garret Stanley.