Thorsby’s weightlifting team won the Class 2A state championship on April 10, continuing the school’s strong tradition in the activity.

Thorsby has claimed state titles in four of the last five years it has participated in the event, but the last time a Thorsby team competed was 2003.

“We get down there—and this is their first event—and you could see it in their faces: nervous, couldn’t breathe,” coach Keith Williams said.

The Rebels struggled early in the event, logging several disqualifications for improper lifts.

But Thorsby recorded 19 good lifts—one from each of the team’s participants—in the power clean and claimed the trophy.

Senior Kevin Brasher was the overall state champion in his weight class, 132 pounds. Both Jonathan Spivey (258 pounds) and Colton Castleberry (81 pounds) took third place in their respective weight classes.

Thorsby also won team state championships in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

The lifters began preparing for the state meet in January, working out four days a week and taking a break only for spring break, Williams said.

Williams has been heavily involved in the weight training of athletes for several different sports at the school and said he thinks the lifters’ success at the meet will carry over into other sports.

“I think weightlifting is the backbone of all sports,” Williams said.