Several local powerlifters qualified for state during the regional meet on Saturday at Pope John Paul II in Slidell.

Varnado’s Jaccourious Bickham, Jep Bonnette, T’Andrew Foster, Chris Kimball and Jadarrell Magee and Franklinton’s Randy Garza, Wyatt Hensley and Stevie Thompson are all headed to state, which is in Alexandria later this month.

Ten lifters per weight class in each classification made it to state. Six regionals took place. Winners from each regional automatically reached state and then the top lifters among the non-winners qualified.

It is a great accomplishment for the lifters in reaching the state level and now they will compete for a title.

Congratulations to the eight local qualifiers and good luck in the state meet.