By EDWARD SEVERN, Staff Writer
The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons captured their seventh straight powerlifting state title Wednesday in Corpus Christi.
“I am very proud of the girls. They knew what needed to be done and did it,” Los Fresnos coach Jaime Vela said. “We had some girls that really stepped up and got us some points, and hopefully this win will continue to build the foundation. I am happy for them.”
Los Fresnos finished with 32 points, beating Edinburg Economedes with 23 points and Wylie with 20.
Individually, East Valley powerlifters performed exceptionally by putting up some big numbers and coming home with medals.
Harlingen South’s Daniela Maximo finished first with a 705-pound total, beating San Benito’s Angelina Zuniga (635) in the 97-pound weight division. Alondra Tefertiller finished sixth with a 570 total, Kambryn Salinas lifted 570 for eighth and Clarissa Rodriguez put up 565 to finish ninth for Los Fresnos.
In the 105-pound division, Los Fresnos’ Tyler Martin took home gold by outlifting second place by five pounds. Martin lifted 740 pounds on the day, including an impressive 180 on the bench. Lady Falcons’ Mikayli Arellano finished eighth in the weight class with a 620 total.
At 114, Hailey Martin gave the Lady Falcons more points with another first-place medal at 820 pounds. Martin’s 200 in the bench and 305 in the deadlift were the highest in the weight class.
Los Fresnos’ Miranda Escamilla cruised to victory with a 995 total, beating second-place Rebecca Becerra from Weslaco High by 125 pounds in the 123-pound division. Escamilla posted a stunning 405 deadlift and 390 squat. Brownsville Hanna’s Aliyah Castillo finished third at 830, and Anguela Carrizalez finished eighth for the Lady Falcons.
The best finisher from the 132-pound weight class was Annette Cardenas of Los Fresnos, who finished seventh with an 820-pound total.
In the 148-pound division, the Lady Falcons’ Carol Longoria finished second at 980. Longoria squatted 385, benched 230 and deadlifted 365.
At 165, San Benito’s Julissa Nino came in sixth at 905. Janelle Aleman of Los Fresnos finished seventh at 900.
San Benito’s Jayden Ybarra lifted 910 pounds to come in fourth place in the 181-pound division.
Los Fresnos’ Krystina Infante competed in the 198-pound class, finishing fifth at 945, and Saida Arreola (198) put up 880 for eighth place.
The Lady Falcons’ Karina Medina came in second in the 220-pound weight class at 980. Medina squatted 400 and deadlifted 370. Los Fresnos’ Alyssa Brock lifted 955 to finish sixth, and Brownsville Hanna’s Elsa Raya lifted 905 to finish ninth.
The Lady Falcons’ Briana Arce finished seventh in the over-259-pound division, lifting 815.