By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
East Valley girls powerlifters competed at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state meet Thursday through Saturday at American Bank Center Arena in Corpus Christi.
The Class 6A Los Fresnos Lady Falcons were the cream of the crop, winning their sixth consecutive state championship Thursday. Los Fresnos (26 points) edged Wylie (23) and Edinburg Economedes (21). San Benito (10) finished in a tie for seventh.
Sindy Aguilera, Brianna De La Rosa, Miranda Escamilla, Hailey Martin, Alexandra Garcia, Veronica Martinez, Kim Garza, Tori Escalante, Carmen Lainez, Franchesca Sanchez, Emily Rodriguez and Alejandra Garcia made up the Los Fresnos team.
Aguilera won the individual gold medal in the 105-pound weight class. Alexandra Garcia was the runner-up in the 123-pound weight class. Martin (114), Rodriguez (165) and Alejandra Garcia (220) all took home bronze medals in their respective weight classes. De La Rosa (105) and Martinez (123) both finished fourth, and Lainez earned fifth place in the 148-pound weight class.
San Benito was represented by Angelina Zuniga and Jenifher Gallegos. Zuniga finished second in the 97-pound weight class, and Gallegos placed second in the 148 weight class.
Maryssa Lucio was the lone qualifier for the Brownsville Hanna Lady Eagles, and Idali Vasquez represented Harlingen South.
The Class 4A small schools competed Friday, and the East Valley was represented by lifters from Rio Hondo and Port Isabel.
Rio Hondo’s Paloma Murillo and Misty Garza competed in the 114-pound weight class. Murillo won an individual state championship, setting two personal records and notching the best bench and best total in the light weight division.
Port Isabel had four qualifiers who all placed in the top 10. April Puente was the top Lady Tarpons finisher, taking home the bronze medal in the 220-pound weight class. Sophia Aguilera (132) and Madelyn Galvan (165) both finished fifth in their respective weight classes, and Chelsea Gonzalez came in seventh.
Zeena Flores and Alyssa Ramirez from La Feria competed in the Class 4A large school division Friday.
Brownsville Lopez, Brownsville Pace, Brownsville Porter and Brownsville Veterans Memorial all sent lifters to compete in the Class 5A large school division Saturday.
The Pace Lady Vikings finished fifth with 11 points. Asia De Leon and Kimberly Luna both won individual silver medals in the 123-pound and 181-pound weight classes, respectively. Natalie Rivera took fourth in the 181-pound weight class, and Andrea Rizo finished fifth in the 148-pound weight class.
Lopez had just one lifter qualify, Marleen Salazar, and she earned seven points to finish seventh in the team standings. Porter was represented by Alexis Rodriguez, Allyson Gil and Aaliyah Prater, and the Cowgirls (5) finished ninth. Yvonne De La Fuente and Nayeli Lopez combined to score two points, placing Brownsville Veterans in 19th.