#HSFT19 Stop #2 — West Lowndes Panthers

Columbus, Miss. (WCBI) — “I’m trying to get them in the weight room, get better.”

Getting better.

That’s the goal for the West Lowndes Panthers as they prepare for the 2019 season.

Coming off a two-win season, head coach Anthony King said the team will rely on a veteran offensive line and the team hopes their hard work this offseason can propel them to take the next step.

“Pretty good size. Could be stronger, but we’re going to try to run behind those guys,” King said.

“We’ve been in the weight room, working out, trying to get better and win a state championship one time for my last ride,” senior offensive lineman Tyler Bridges said.

The work the Panthers are putting in this offseason will definitely be put to the test as they are set to compete in the toughest region in 1A.

The Panthers will have to go through the likes of French Camp, Hamilton, Noxapater, Okolona, Smithville, TCPS, Vardaman and reigning state champion Nanih Waiya.

“The mindset this year really has been to comeback in the weight room and get back stronger,” senior athlete Qua Sanders said.

“Being prepared mentally and physically on the field. This year we’re in a harder district so we have to be ready for those games.”

“It’s gonna be very tough competing in this division when you have Nanih Waiya and Smithville in the same district,” King said, “Got Noxapater, who’s really good, and Vardaman. It’s gonna be a tough district to come out of.”

West Lowndes returns do-it-all athlete and Division One prospect Qua Sanders and senior offensive lineman Tyler Bridges. Both are confident that their experience will help lead this young bunch.

“This year, we have a pretty young team in a lot of areas, so with me being a senior, and having a lot of playing time last year, I’m just going to step up and take on that leadership role for them and take them to the right direction,” Sanders said.

With a successful season, King feels like the Panthers can lay to rest the stigma of West Lowndes being only a basketball school.

“West Lowndes is considered a basketball school,” King said, “we have to try to convince guys to come out and lift weights and do all the things we need to do. But the main thing is we’re going to try to turn it into a basketball and football school.”

West Lowndes kicks off the 2019 season against on the road at Ethel.