By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
Alexandra “Alex” Chavez has loved powerlifting since she first began the sport as a Hanna freshman.
Last summer, the standout senior earned a silver medal at international competition in Florida for Team USA and captured the attention of college recruiters.
Now the sport is providing her with an all-expenses paid college education.
On Wednesday afternoon at her campus, Chavez signed a full-ride athletic scholarship agreement to compete next school year for the powerlifting program at Midland University in Fremont, Nebraska.
“I’ve always had an image in my mind of what could be (as far as signing to become a powerlifter in college), and now that it’s happening, it’s surreal,” said Chavez, who has qualified for the last three THSWPA state meets and hopes to go again next month. “I am extremely blessed to be given the opportunity to lift collegiately because that has been my ultimate goal since Day One.”
Chavez becomes the first powerlifter from Hanna — male or female — to receive a scholarship to compete in lifting in college.
“It’s very exciting to see an athlete move on to the next level,” said Hanna coach Mike Chavez, who is no relation to Alexandra. “She’s worked very hard for this and I know she’ll be successful.
“Like any athlete in the sport of powerlifting, it’s all about putting in the time and dedication, and having the discipline to get up and do it everyday plus having the discipline to take care of your body so you can recover (from injuries),” the coach added. “Because of those qualities, Alexandra’s been able to do really well. That’s what makes her successful.”
Competing as a 148-pound lifter, Chavez’s top lifts are 474 pounds in the squat, 405 pounds in the dead lift and 250 pounds in the bench press. Those marks have come within the past year at various meets. After getting a silver medal as a junior last year at the THSWPA state meet, she’s looking for a gold this time around on March 16 in Waco.
While before long she’ll be concentrating almost exclusively on powerlifting and her studies, Chavez has a wealth of activities to keep her busy at Hanna. She’s the co-captain on the cheerleading squad, a varsity choir member, a track and field competitor and a two-time Skills USA national finalist besides being a captain on the powerlifting team.
Her silver medal for Team USA came last summer at the International Powerlifting Federation World Sub-Junior Championships in Orlando, Florida. She holds a national record in the 72-kg weight class for her squat lift and holds a THSWPA Region V record for her bench press.
The standout lifter has come a long way in a short amount of time.
“I got disqualified at the state meet when I was a freshman and that’s really what has pushed me and made me believe that I was good enough to do it,” Chavez said. “When I was a freshman, my coach told me I’d be a state champion someday. I’ve never had a coach believe in me so much and it’s kept me going.
“I feel that me, being here from Brownsville and signing to do something like this, will give recognition (in powerlifting) to Region V, which is the Valley,” Chavez added. “We have incredible lifters here. And maybe they can have a chance to show their abilities at the next level, too — not just here in Texas. I’m so blessed that I have been given an opportunity to receive a scholarship because it does not happen to everybody. I’m glad I’m one of the few to get one.
“I just thank my coach, Mike Chavez, and my parents, Dino and Odelia (Chavez) for all their support.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess