Rio Grande Valley girls powerlifters combined to win 26 individual state championships and Los Fresnos and Edcouch-Elsa both won team titles in their respective classes while competing at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association State Meets from March 15-18 at the Comerica Center in Frisco.
Los Fresnos’ girls powerlifting team won its eighth-straight Class 6A state championship with 33 points, 12 more than second-place finisher Royse City.
Points are awarded for the top five finishes in each weight class in this manner — 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1. Each lifter goes through three different sets of lifts — squat, bench press and deadlift. The total weight combined from the three lifts determines the winner.
N Falcons powerlifters posted top five finishes to win medals in their respective weight classes and earn points towards their team total: Clarissa Rodriguez (1st in 97-pound weight class, 305 squat, 150 bench, 270 deadlift, 725 total), Tyler Martin (1st in 105-pound weight class, 305 squat, 200 bench, 290 deadlift, 795 total), Hailey Martin (2nd in 114-pound weight class, 850 total), Anette Cardenas (2nd in 123-pound weight class, 895 total); Alondra Salas (3rd in 114-pound weight class, 750 total), Kimberly Almazan (3rd in 198-pound weight class, 1,025 total), Soley Mendoza (4th in 165-pound weight class, 970 total), Marifer Roriguez (5th in 105 pound-weight class, 680 total); Kiara Villanueva (5th in 181-pound weight class, 960 total).
In Class 5A Division II, Edcouch-Elsa’s girls powerlifting team won its third-straight state championship with 22 points.
Yellow Jackets senior Georgina Alaniz won her third-straight state championship with a 1,015 total (430 squat, 205 bench, 380 deadlift) in the 132-pound weight class. E-E’s Zilah Velez (2nd in 97-pound weight class, 635 total), Addie Anzaldua (2nd in 105-pound weight class, 725 total), Emma Garza (220-pound weight class, 1,015 total) and Katie Contreras (97-pound weight class, 545 total) all posted podium finishes to contribute to the Yellow Jackets’ total points.
Edinburg IDEA College Prep earned second place as a team in Class 3A Division II with a pair of repeat state champs in Amaris Garza at 181 pounds (520 squat, 320 bench, 470 deadlift, 1,310 total) and Mia Rincones at 165 pounds (415 squat, 300 bench, 370 deadlift, 1,085 total)
La Joya Palmview finished third as a team in Class 5A Division I with nine points and PSJA Southwest placed third as a team in Class 5A Division II with 17 points.
Palmview’s Julie Tamez won gold in the 114-pound weight class (345 squat, 155 bench, 330 deadlift) and Cristal Montoya won gold at 148 pounds (425 squat, 175 bench, 380 deadlift, 980 total). Dinorah Galvan won silver in the 105-pound weight class with a 830 total for the Lobos.
Southwest’s 17 points came from state champion at 220-pounds Perla Garza (485 squat, 245 bench,, 380 deadlift, 1,100 total), Rayleen Garza (2nd in 165-pound weight class, 985 total) and Miranda Montez (2nd in 198-pound weight class, 1,045 total).
La Feria earned third as a team in Class 4A Division I with 17 points from Eneece Avila (2nd in 97-pound weight class), Zeena Flores (2nd in 181-pound weight class), Emily Avila (3rd in 105-pound weight class), Galilea Gonzalez (3rd in 132-pound weight class) and Faith Gonzalez (5th in 148-pound weight class).
A complete list of RGV powerlifters who posted top five finishes at the THSWPA state meets from all classes and divisions can be found at RGVSports.com.
2023 STATE CHAMPIONS
CLASS 6A – Clarissa Rodriguez, Los Fresnos, 97-pound weight class (305 squat, 150 bench, 270 deadlift, 725 total); Tyler Martin, Los Fresnos, 105-pound weight class (305 squat, 200 bench, 290 deadlift, 795 total); Keily Guzman, La Joya High, 132-pound weight class (425 squat, 225 bench, 355 deadlift, 1,005 total); Brianna Marquez, Mission High, 148-pound weight class (455 squat, 220 bench, 370 deadlift, 1,045 total); Raquel Uvalle, Harlingen High, 181-pound weight class (470 squat, 245 bench, 390 deadlift, 1,105 total); Jaslyn Estrella, San Benito, 259+ weight class (550 squat, 280 bench, 440 deadlift).
CLASS 5A DIVISION I – Julie Tamez, La Joya Palmview, 114-pound weight class (345 squat, 155 bench, 330 deadlift, 830 total); Ollie Valdez, Brownsville Veterans, 123-pound weight class (375 squat, 180 bench, 350 deadlift, 905 total); Rhonda Valdez, Donna High, 132-pound weight class (380 squat, 205 bench, 335 deadlift, 920 total); Cristal Montoya, La Joya Palmview, 148-pound weight class (425 squat, 175 bench, 380 deadlift, 980 total); Nayeli Barrera, Weslaco East, 198-pound weight class (450 squat, 265 bench, 365 deadlift, 1,080); Yaresi Ozuna, McAllen High, 259-pound weight class (480 squat, 315 bench, 390 deadlift, 1,185 total); Maya Magallanes, Rio Grande City, 259+ weight class (485 squat, 225 bench, 395 deadlift, 1,135 total).
CLASS 5A DIVISION II – Brittney Benedetti, PSJA Memorial, 97-pound weight class (280 squat, 115 bench, 305 deadlift, 700 total); Hailey Aul, Sharyland Pioneer, 105-pound weight class (295 squat, 165 bench, 290 deadlift, 750 total); Ketny Nicoleau, Sharyland Pioneer, 114-pound weight class (405 squat, 225 bench, 405 deadlift, 1,035 total); Georgina Alaniz, Edcouch-Elsa, 132-pound weight class (430 squat, 205 bench, 380 deadlift, 1,015 total); Deseray Rodriguez, Mission Veterans, 148-pound weight class (455 squat, 260 bench, 415 deadlift, 1,130 total); Kayleen Perez, Roma, 165-pound weight class (415 squat, 210 bench, 365 deadlift, 990 total); Perla Garza, PSJA Southwest, 220-pound weight class (485 squat, 245 bench, 380 deadlift, 1,110 total).
CLASS 4A DIVISION I – Alexa Prado, Hidalgo, 97-pound weight class (300 squat, 155 bench, 275 deadlift, 730 total).
CLASS 3A DIVISION I – Mia Ramos, Brownsville IDEA Riverview, 259+ weight class (480 squat, 260 bench, 395 deadlift, 1,135 total).
CLASS 3A DIVISION II – Leslie Flores, Santa Rosa, 148-pound weight class (415 squat, 205 bench, 380 deadlift, 1,000 total); Mia Rincones, Edinburg IDEA College Prep, 165-pound weight class (415 squat, 300 bench, 370 deadlift, 1,085 total); Amaris Garza, Edinburg IDEA College Prep, 181-pound weight class (520 squat, 320 bench, 470 deadlift, 1,310 total).
CLASS 1A-2A – Yaretzy Gomez, La Villa, 259+ weight class (430 squat, 250 bench, 370 deadlift, 1,070 total).