Seniors Jeleisa Smith, Lauren Hartwick and Amber West were the Forney medal recipients as they finished 3rd, 4th and 5th respectively in their weight classes.  Another Lady Rabbit competitor on this day was Kiki Townsend. The young sophomore finished just out of the medals in 6th place. 

After their resounding success at the Regional Meet, expectations were high among the Forney faithful that Smith, Hartwick and West could challenge for State Championship honors. 

But while this terrific trio was superb at the Regional Meet, they struggled to find their rhythm at the State Meet. Overall, they did not produce their best performance at the State Meet, but they still did very well. 

Coming into the State Meet, Jeleisa Smith was trying to win her 3rd consecutive State Championship in the 97 lb. weight class. However, Shelia Mayes of state power Port Lavaca Calhoun had other ideas. From the very beginning, Mayes took charge of the competition and never looked on her way to victory. 

Smith tried valiantly to catch Mayes. In fact, she gave it everything she had. For the record, Smith did have one chance to win the  meet. That chance came in the Dead Lift where Smith attempted to lift what would have been a personal and state record for her weight class-—305 lbs.   If she had been successful on the lift, she would have won but it was not to be. 

—See the March 25 issue of the Forney Messenger for entire story and additional photos.