15-year-old wins state powerlifting championship

Neshoba Central freshman Marlee Washington beat all odds and took home first place in the Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) State Powerlifting Competition on April 1.

Washington, 15, lifted her personal best in each of the following categories during the competition: Squats (270 lbs.), Bench Press (135lbs.), and Deadlift (345 lbs.). She not only placed first in the state meet, but she also became the first female powerlifting champion at Neshoba Central.

“I felt so good winning,” Washington said. “I went to the state meet nervous and thought the same thing would happen this year that happened last year when I came in last place. But I did my best and did what I had to do to win.”

Washington first noticed her raw and natural strength when she moved into her new house a couple of years ago and had to move some heavy boxes around.

“When we moved into our house, I had to pick up heavy things,” Washington said. “I realized I could pick up heavy loads, and one of my friends commented that I should join the powerlifting team, and my mom also suggested it as a joke. But I did it, and here I am.”

Washington began squatting around 240 pounds in eighth grade, bench pressed around 110 pounds and deadlifted around 250 pounds.

After she came in last place during last year’s state competition, she was determined to win this year.

“It’s an honor to be Neshoba Central’s first female powerlifting champion,” Washington said. “I’m going to start training year-round instead of starting in January and break state records this year. I think people should go for this if they want it, train for it, and have fun. You never know if you’ve got the talent for something unless you try it.”

Outside of powerlifting, Washington enjoys cheerleading for Neshoba Central and works for her mother’s cheer gym, Washington’s Cheer and Dance Academy. 

Brian Anderson, powerlifting coach at Neshoba Central, said Washington is the first ninth-grader he has ever coached to go to the state championship.

“Marlee is only 15, competing against 18-year-olds, which is remarkable,” Anderson said. “For her to win the state championship on top of that is truly special.”

Anderson started coaching and working with Washington two years ago and said she had a special gift.

“You can work hard and be good at something, but to be a state champion, you need to have a gift. And she’s got that,” he said. “When you’re that young, you need help from your parents since she had to practice at 6 a.m. Her parents helped her with that.”

“She has a great, supportive family and that also contributes to her success,” he said. “She’s fun to coach, has a great attitude, and has even bigger things in store for the future.”

Washington’s mother, Melonie Moore-Washington, said her daughter winning the state competition is an amazing achievement.

“Marlee has always been a hard worker,” Washington said. “When she was born, she spent a week in the neonatal intensive care unit. To see her flourish into a teenager who is not only physically strong but also mentally strong is amazing. We are super proud to see her develop into who she is.”

Washington said her daughter used to work out seasonally, but now she will work out year-round.

“Marlee has raw talent, and her goal is to break state records next year,” Washington said. “She’s been so successful off raw strength. We never knew she was as strong as she is until I saw that she was lifting just as much as my younger brother, a former powerlifter. She was driven and motivated to win this year after coming in last the previous year in the state championship, and she prevailed.”