By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Powerlifting has come a long way since programs to promote it were implemented five years ago at Brownsville ISD high schools.
That fact was clearly evident Saturday at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association state meet in Abilene as the Lopez and Hanna boys finished 1-2 in the Division I team standings with 14 and 12 points, respectively. Port Lavaca Calhoun was third with 11 points. Division I included lifters from Class 6A and 5A schools.
Also in Division I at the state meet, Brownsville Veterans Memorial was seventh (seven points), Pace was 18th (five points) and Porter was 26th (three points).
Two weekends ago, the Lopez Lady Lobos finished second in 5A at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state meet in Waco, so powerlifting at Lopez is on the rise.
“We defied all odds and won a state title,” said Lopez coach Matthew Barba, who is assisted by Hugo Ramirez, Bruce Castro and Guadalupe Perez. “The last school to do that (from the Valley) was Weslaco East in 2011, so it’s been six years. Brownsville has a soccer persona (with four UIL state championships), and now powerlifting is helping put the city on the map.
“Our expectations were met because we accomplished our mission of bringing home a state championship,” Barba added. “The foundation has been laid. Now it’s time to build the house (by adding more state titles).
“Hanna was our main competition. It came down to the end and who wanted it the most.”
Highlighting the meet for Lopez were Jose Alvarado, Jesse Luna and Josh Trevino.
Alvarado became a state champion for the second time. He won the 132-pound weight class with a lift total of 1,305 pounds, which was 120 pounds better than the second-place finisher in his division. Alvarado had a squat lift of 545 pounds, a bench press of 295 pounds and a deadlift of 465 pounds to finish with 1,305 pounds.
Luna finished third in the 198-pound division with a lift total of 1,500 pounds and Trevino took third in the super heavyweight division with a lift total of 1,790 pounds.
Also finishing in the Top 10 for Lopez were Leo Alaniz, fifth in the 123-pound class (1,080 total pounds); Daniel Ramos, sixth in the 220-pound class (1,585 total pounds); Ramses Ramos. ninth in the 165-pound class (1,300 total pounds); and Allen Guillen, ninth in the 114-pound class (915 total pounds).
Hanna’s day was highlighted by a pair of lifters who finished second. Ricky Arreola was the runner-up in the 220-pound division with a lift total of 1,655 pounds, while teammate Adrian Arredondo was the runner-up in the 242-pound division with a lift total of 1,660 pounds.
Also for Hanna, Leo Gonzalez was fourth in the 220-pound division (1,635 total pounds), Osvaldo Lopez was seventh in the 114-pound division (930 total pounds) and Nathan Silva was eighth in the 198-pound division (1,460 total pounds).
“I’m very happy for our guys and proud of them for the effort they gave,” Hanna coach Mike Chavez said. “The competition was intense and it came down to the very end. We were a little off with our numbers and we didn’t quite hit the ones we wanted to hit, but I’m still very proud of our guys for their effort and the way they represented our school and our community.
“Powerlifting in Brownsville has come a long way in a short time,” Chavez added. “The future is bright (for it here).”
Brownsville Veterans boasted a state champion in Joel Sanchez, who won the 123-pound weight division with a lift total of 1,160 pounds (465 squad, 220 bench press, 475 deadlift).
Pace’s Ricky Cuellar took second in the 132-pound weight class (1,185 total pounds). Also for Pace, Christian Castro was ninth in the 275-pound weight class (1,580 total pounds) and Misael Marquez was 10th in the 123-pound weight division (1,035 total pounds).
Porter’s Gio Martinez was third in the 181-pound weight class (1,475 total pounds).
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess