By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Friday, Feb. 17, the Port Isabel Tarpons womens powerlifting team traveled to La Feria HS to participate in the Lionettes Powerlifting Invitational. The eight-team powerlifting meet consisted of Port Isabel, Hidalgo, Raymondville, La Feria, Rio Hondo, Zapata, Monte Alto and Santa Maria. The meet was also the women’s Regional Qualifier.
Individual placement was based on the summation of the following three lifts: squat, bench press and deadlift. Team placement was calculated with the summation of the school’s combined individual awarded points.
The women’s meet featured 79 lifters in the competition. The following Port Isabel lifters won gold in their respective weight classes: Natalie Martinez with a total lift of 825, April Puente (1,035) and Avalee Salazar (805). Puente who is currently ranked third in the region recorded her best lift of the season. Salazar also recorded her best lift of the season and also made the biggest improvement of the season in total lift. She went from having a total lift of 680 from her first meet to 805 in the qualifier, an improvement of 125 pounds.
Other lifter results were: Stacy Suarez with a 610 total lift, Daniella Alonso (560), Saturn Trejo (645), Emma Villarreal (700), and Victoria Lopez (670). In order to qualify for the 2023 Regional Championships, a lifter needed to finish as one of the top 12 lifters in their weight class. All the competing PI lifters except for one in this meet advanced. Other PI lifters who also qualified for regional competition were Xaria Boiling and Chelsea Gonzalez.
The top three women’s teams were: La Feria with 56 points, Hidalgo (35), and Rio Hondo (34). Port Isabel came in fourth with 25 points.
Meanwhile, the Port Isabel men’s powerlifting team traveled to Rio Hondo to compete in the Bobcat Powerlifting Meet. The men’s meet featured 90 lifters from the following schools, Port Isabel, Rio Hondo, Lyford, La Feria, Santa Rosa, Raymondville, Hidalgo and Santa Maria.
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