By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Now it’s the boys turn to focus on the state powerlifting meet.
Twenty-seven boys from six Metro-area schools will be competing at the 2016 Texas High School Powerlifting Association state meet today at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene.
Lopez, which won the regional team title, qualified nine powerlifters for the state meet, including regional title winners Alex Berrones, Jose Alvarado and Danny Diaz.
Hanna has eight lifters qualified for the state meet, Los Fresnos has four, Pace has three, Brownsville Veterans Memorial has two and Port Isabel has one, all aiming for an individual state title.
The Lobos’ Berrones (114-weight class) had a total of 1,055 pounds with a 370 squat, a 215 bench and a 470 deadlift. Alvarado (132) had a 1,220 total — 500 squat, 280 bench and 440 deadlift and Diaz (148) totaled 1,400 (530, 325 and 545). Berrones and Diaz are returning to state after competing last year, as did Rogelio Pulido.
“It feels amazing to go back again,” Berrones said. “We just have to stay confident. Last year, me and two other guys were the first ones to go from Lopez, now we’re going as a team, that’s pretty amazing.”
Pulido (165) — 1,445 (560, 300, 585) and Danny Ramos (198) — 1,555 (615, 395, 545) were both runners up at the regional meet. Teammates Leo Alaniz (114) — 915 (330, 210, 375), Hugo Salas (148) — 1,335 (560, 285, 490), Alexis Olalde (198) — 1,400 (555, 295, 550), and Josh Trevino (super heavyweight) — 1,695 (700, 400, 595) will also compete.
“An individual award is good,” Diaz said. “But as a team, it would be great.”
The Lobos are confident after winning the regional title and have a good shot to bring home the state title as well.
“That was an awesome feeling,” Lopez coach Hugo Ramirez said about winning a regional title. “When we first started, I got a group of kids, most of them were freshmen. I told them ‘this is going to pay off down the road, two, three years from now and it’s paying off right now. We knew we had a special group. It would mean a lot.
“We’re going to graduate a couple of them and we want to send them out with a state title.”
The Golden Eagles’ Eric Tong returns to the state meet in the 148 class. He was second at the regional meet to Diaz by 25 pounds. Tong qualified with a total of 1,375 — (550, 260, 565). He will be joined by Arturo Mancias (165) — 1,330 (525, 300, 505), Ramon Delgado (181) — 1,350 (565, 300, 485), Nathan Silva (198) — 1,405 (565, 295, 545), Leo Gonzalez (220) — 1,505 (585, 335, 585), Rafa Pena (220) — 1,480 (625, 310, 545), Ricky Arreola (220) — 1,450 (600, 375, 475) and Andre Gonzalez (275) — 1,550 (630, 350, 570)
“Very grateful, very grateful,” Tong said of his return to state in his senior year. “It would mean the world to me (to win a state title), all the hard work that I put into the weight room. I’m more confident (this year) and I’m going to go all out.”
The Falcons’ Fabian Rodriguez (181) was third at the regional meet. He had a total of 1,520 — (590, 350, 580). Rodriguez returns to the state meet, as does Eliseo Garzoria (165) — 1,395 (530, 240, 625). They will be joined by teammates JJ Ortiz (123) —1,035 (405, 250, 380) and Freddy Martinez (242) — 1,515 (580, 420, 515).
The Vikings will be represented by a trio of power lifters, Misael Marquez (123) — 1,025 (415, 250, 360), Yayo Sequra (148) — 1,210 (475, 275, 460) and Pablo Garza (181) — 1,445 (530, 365, 550). The three are the first boys from Pace to qualify for the state meet.
“I think we’re looking at top five finishes for each of them,” Pace coach Joe Espanoza said. “It’s what they’ve been working for, they’re excited. We just have to worry about one lift at a time.”
Brownsville Veterans has a pair of first-time competitors, Joel Sanchez (123) and Brandon Martinez (181). Sanchez totaled 1,050 — (415, 205, 430) and Martinez had 1,350 — (525, 290, 535).
“It feels good, I worked really hard and I didn’t get to go,” Martinez said regarding an injury that kept him from competing last year at the state meet. “This year I feel like I finally did it, so it’s great. It feels like all the lifting has meant something.”
Port Isabel has a lone qualifier and it will be the first state meet for John Ray Martinez (198) — 1,400 (560, 325, 515).
“He’s worked hard every day and every meet he’s got better and better,” Port Isabel coach Victor Rubalcaba said. “We’ve got a plan and hopefully he can medal. He’s a strong kid, but we just have to worry about our lifts because anything can happen.”
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.