PCHS weightlifting team gets 4-peat as state champions
FRANKLIN — Pierce County’s weightlifting program has joined the Lady Bears golf program at the top.
PCHS’s weightlifters joined the girls’ golf program as a four-time state champion here Saturday, March 7 in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association’s Lee Murray State Weightlifting Championships at Heard County High School. The event was presented by Georgia Coaches vs. Overdoses.
The Bears had three individuals capture their respective weight classes (10 divisions). William McQuaig topped the 140-lb. weight class in the bench press and power clean format. Drake Dowling led the 160-lb. class with Leland Williams capturing the 225-lb. division.
“It’s pretty awesome just watching our guys,” said head coach Ryan Herring. “It’s humbling to be able to work with young men who work hard, plus they’re good kids. Nobody has a better job than me.
“This was the (culmination) of all they do. It’s a big deal to us. We get to show off our work ethic and our strength. It’s kind of like a winter competition that tells us where we are.
“For four years in a row, we’ve seen where we match up well in the weight room. I’ve said it for years, poundfor- pound nobody’s stronger than us. People have bigger, heavier guys than us generally, but pound-forpound we’re second to none.”
McQuaig, Dowling and Williams were not the only members to reach the podium. PCHS had a lot of runner-ups and others to place helping them to a nearly 100-point advantage over runner-up Rockmart.
“The weight room is the cornerstone of our program,” said Herring. “We lift 12 months a year. We during football season, basketball has a season when those players lift, and baseball has a season when those guys lift.
“We come back from Christmas and focus on everything in the weight room including speed and strength. There will be two days a week we concentrate on benching and power clean to get ready for the state meet.”
Herring said he will not have spring practice. “There are seven starters in baseball who play football,” he said. “Those are some important guys who are quarterbacks and running backs. We would be without some people, so I’d rather get another Fall scrimmage.”
The Bears will scrimmage at Glynn Academy (August 7) and at Wayne County (August 14). The 2026 season opens August 21 with Pierce County taking the longest road trip in school history — a date with Coosa Christian in Gadsden, Ala. The Conquerors won the Class 2A state title last season under Rush Propst.
PCHS closes out August traveling to Brooks County ahead of a September 4 open date. The Bears close out non-region play in the September 11 home opener against Swainsboro.
Region 3-AAA action kicks off September 18 with Johnson visiting. Pierce County travels September 25 to Toombs County. Beach (October 2) and Tattnall County (October 9) follow with trips to Bearville.
Followling a second open date October 16, the Bears travel October 23 to Brantley County, host Islands October 30 and close the season November 6 at Appling County.
