By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
It’s all about dedication.
That’s what pushed a trio of Pace girls this season in powerlifting this season. That determination has the three set to compete at the 2015 Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state meet, which begins Friday at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.
Sarah Moraida, Jackie Cano and Vanessa Rivera each will make their first trip to the state meet to compete for the Lady Vikings.
“It’s very rewarding, seeing the work that these girls put in. Sometimes they’re here at 6:30 (a.m.) in the morning,” Pace coach Joe Espanoza said about his first year as coach. “Getting a workout in before school and coming back in the afternoon to finish up. They put in the time, and it shows.”
Moraida (105-pound class) finished third in the regional meet with a total of 720 pounds. She finished with 285 in the squat, 135 in the bench and 300 in the deadlift. Cano (165) finished with a 300 in the squat, a 165 bench and a 305 deadlift for a total of 770 and Rivera (165) had 330 (squat), 135 (bench) and 280 (deadlift) for a total of 745.
Moraida, a senior and a three-year veteran, said she ‘didn’t expect it.’ Rivera also is a senior, but this is her first full year, and Cano is a sophomore and in her second season. Each has a different motivator toward the state meet. Moraida has worked for the better part of three years to get there, Rivera wants to see what she can do in her last season and Cano hopes to compete well and to repeat the feat during her junior and senior years.
“I had to give it my all,” Rivera said. “I knew I had to push myself to get to state.”
Cano added, “It feels really good to make it to state. It’s a big accomplishment because I knew if I made it this year, I’m really confident I can make it next year (or the following year).”
Rivera and Cano also play multiple sports, but Moraida concentrates on powerlifting.
“I didn’t want to join my first year, “ said Moraida, who played soccer and ran track during her freshman year. “I placed first in my first meet and I guess I just got confidence. As I progressed I got better and decided to stick to powerlifting.”
Rivera also is a member of the dance team and Cano plays volleyball, basketball, softball and runs track.
“We don’t have a lot of numbers, so we have to share our girls,” Espanoza said, who also had two other athletes advance to the regional. “They work hard, there’s no doubt about it. If they’re not here, they’re somewhere else.”
Espanoza credits the girls for the dedication that has taken them to the top.
“I put the work up on the board, they get the job done,” he said. “We’re very exited for them. We’re just trying to get a gold medal.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.