NATCHEZ — No need to worry about the heavy lifting, five Natchez High School athletes have got that under control.

The Bulldogs will send Larry Campbell, Ryon Rigsby, Jordan Coleman, DeCameron Combs and Bryson Armstead today to D’Iberville High in Biloxi for the MHSAA Class 5A Powerlifting South State meet.

“We are excited,” coach Steve Davis said. “I love it. It’s been really fun with this group of guys.”

Davis said there were 12 athletes to compete with Natchez this season, with 11 competing at a regional meet in February. From there, five advanced to South State.

“Most of these guys are first time lifters, so this is tremendous,” Davis said. “We got started kind of late, but it’s paying big dividends for us.”

The goal, Davis said, is for him — alongside strength coach Nickie Davis — to start the Bulldogs young.

“We just want to build,” he said. “Eventually in a few years we will have a team full of seniors. You can see the difference in our freshman because they weren’t quite ready yet. But, the experience gets you prepared so you know what you are getting into.”

Additionally, Davis said he thinks lifting is overall beneficial.

“I love the weight room anyway,” he said. “From football and powerlifting, even with track, I think it leans on everything you do. You have to get stronger because it makes everything better.”

While at the South State meet, the Bulldogs will be ranked on three events. The athletes will record their best weights in squat lifting, bench press and dead lift.

“It’s all a numbers game,” Davis said. “You have to be able to adjust either up or down depending on what everyone else is doing.”

The top three from each weight class will advance to the Class 5A State Meet.

Davis said he is confident Natchez will have at least a bit of representation.

“Anything to get the Bulldogs on the map,” he said. “We should have four, maybe all five move on.”