By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
Two members of the Porter girls powerlifting team are heading to the state tournament Friday in Corpus Christi.
The athletes, Mary Ann Gonzalez and Natasha Lopez, are seniors and in their second year of powerlifting. Though both are heading to state, they have reached that level via somewhat different means.
Gonzalez, a member of the 165-pound weight class, has a natural gift. Mata said she was built to be a lifter.
“Mary Ann is genetically blessed,” Porter coach Tito Mata said. “She walked (into the weight room) her first day and repped two plates. It takes most girls eight to 10 months to do that once. So her first day, I knew she had it.”
Lopez, on the other hand, competes in the 148-pound weight class and has worked for two years to mold herself into a state-eligible athlete.
“Natasha had to work hard,” Mata said. “When I got her, she could barely do a bar. I’ve been with her for two years and she has progressively gotten stronger and stronger.”
Both athletes earned bids to compete in Corpus Christi following a good showing March 7 at the regional meet in Edcouch-Elsa.
Gonzalez and Lopez will compete against Class 5A lifters in their respective weight classes at the state meet.
Lopez lifted a combined weight of 750 pounds (300 squat, 140 bench and 310 deadlift) at the regional meet. The score eclipsed the necessary state-qualifying total of 735 pounds by 15 pounds.
The effort placed her 15th among contenders in the region — which includes Class 6A and Class 5A competitors — and eighth among 5A participants.
“It was nerve-racking and shocking,” Lopez said when she found out she would be moving on to state. “It’s going to take good technique, but as long as I finish between first and fifth, I’ll be happy.”
Gonzalez is looking to build upon last year’s trip to the state meet. At the regional, Gonzalez far surpassed the qualifying total of 745 pounds and lifted a combined weight of 865 pounds (395 squat, 175 bench press and 295 deadlift).
Gonzalez finished fifth in the region for her weight class and second among 5A competitors. She has her sights set on a strong showing Friday.
“I want to get all my lifts so I can be state champ,” she said. “As long as I get all my lifts, I’ll be a state champ.”
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.