It was a night of pure dominance for York Comprehensive High School as the Cougars Weightlifting team made their mark at the 2026 State Power Clean Competition. In a stunning display of strength and technique, every single athlete who competed walked away with a top-tier placement, cementing the school’s reputation as a powerhouse in the weight room.
A Flawless Performance
The statistics from the event are nothing short of remarkable. YCHS sent 16 athletes to compete against the best in the state, and all 16 placed in the top 5 of their respective weight classes. Even more impressive, 13 of those lifters secured a podium finish, placing in the top 3.
The highlight of the night, however, was the collective effort of the women’s squad. Their combined exceptional performance secured them the ultimate title: The YCHS Female Team was crowned the 2026 State Champions!
State Champions and All-State Honors
The event saw several individual athletes rise to the occasion to become State Champions in their individual weight classes.
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Female State Champions: AC Lingerfelt and Jessica Merwin.
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Male State Champions: Saadiq Worthy, Connor Sweat, and Kiyan Jones.
In addition to the champions, a large contingent of Cougars earned All-State honors by placing in the top 3 of their divisions:
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Female All-State: Anna Sizemore, Narnia Miller, Anaya Welsh, and Trinity Stehley.
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Male All-State: Levi Ward, Drew Miller, Eli Clinton, and Zo Miller.
Depth of Talent
The team’s success displayed incredible depth across the roster. Briley Comer and Caleb Sanders secured strong 4th place finishes, while Caroline Clark rounded out the team’s perfect record with a 5th place finish.
Congratulations to all the athletes for their hard work, dedication, and for bringing the championship trophy home to York!
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
