House Resolution 130

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE QUITMAN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS PANTHERS POWERLIFTING TEAMS UPON WINNING THE MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION (MHSAA) CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WHEREAS, Quitman High School has a phenomenal powerlifting program that reigned supreme at the 2025 Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State Championship, with the boys team capturing its second state title in the program's 32-year history and the fairly new girls team bringing home their first ever state title; and

WHEREAS, formed in 1993, the Panthers Powerlifting Team quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with under the direction of its first Head Coach Edgar Sorto, winning 13 straight division/region championships, eight South State titles, a State Runner-up in 2001, and its first State Championship in 2000; and

WHEREAS, now under the leadership of Head Coach Darryl Jones and Assistant Coach Curtis Lilly, the boys team has continued its reputation as a powerhouse, having won, in more recent years, two straight 4A Region 3 Championships, two straight 4A South South State Championships, and a State Runner-up in 2024; and

WHEREAS, started in the 2020-2021 school year, the Lady Panthers Powerlifting Team has won five straight Region 3 championships and three South State titles, in addition to its 2025 State Championship, under brother-sister coaching duo Head Coach Charlie Sorto and Assistant Coach Molly Sorto; and

WHEREAS, the 2025 State Championship secured by the Lady Panthers is especially meaningful, with it being the first time in the history of the powerlifting in the State of Mississippi that a father-son duo has coached a team to the state title, made all the more unbelievable by the fact that it was for the same school; and

WHEREAS, three members of the boys squad performed exceptionally well and won individual state championships at the Class 4A championship, with Tony Donald placing first in the 132-pound weight class, Ty'Darrius Arrington placing first in the 148-pound class, and Savion Sholes, who set the 4A and All-Time state squat record for the 198-pound weight class with a 670-pound squat, placing first in the 198-pound class; and

WHEREAS, two members of the Lady Panthers claimed state titles at the championship event this year, with Akaysha Pace placing first in the 242-pound weight class and Aziyah Thompson placing first in the 165-pound weight class; and

WHEREAS, both the boys and girls powerlifting teams have developed a will to win under the guidance of their coaching staffs, who have superbly coached and inspired the teams and broadened the lifters' knowledge of the sport while refining their skills in execution, and they continue to build upon the legacy of superior lifting and true sportsmanship forged by the tenacious and undaunted spirit of each team member; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and honor the outstanding accomplishments of student-athletes such as the Panthers and Lady Panthers Powerlifting Teams, who have brought honor to their school, the Quitman community, and the entire State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Quitman High School Boys and Girls Powerlifting Teams upon winning the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State Championships and extend sincere wishes to the coaches and team members for continued success in all their future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Quitman High School Boys and Girls Powerlifting Teams and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.