By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
This past Friday, March 14, the Port Isabel Girls Powerlifting Team traveled to Edinburg to compete at the 4A D2 State Championships held at the Bert Odgen Arena. The Championship Meet featured 180 lifters
from around Texas, with Port Isabel sending five of its own powerlifters to compete against the best in the state.
The following are the PI girl’s results.
In the 114-weight class, senior Stacey Suarez finished in 6th place with a total lift of 690 lbs. (Squat:295, Bench:160, Dead Lift:235). Suarez had a previous total lift of 710 lbs. back in February that would’ve been
good for third place in this year’s state meet.
In the 123-weight class, freshman Maria Vasquez unfortunately ‘bombed out’ and did not register a total lift. Vasquez had made great strides during her first year of powerlifting and has a bright future ahead of her
in the sport. During the season, she had increased her total lift by 155 lbs. after starting the season with a total lift of 570 lbs. and ultimately registering a total lift of 725 lbs. at regionals.
In the 132-weight class, senior Esmeralda Montoya won a gold medal with a total lift of 940 lbs. (Squat:385, Bench:205, Dead Lift:350), setting new personal bests in all three lifts in addition to total lift (previously
890 lbs.). A consummate competitor, Montoya never missed a meet, never ‘bombed out’ and always medaled in all her meets this season.
In the 181-weight class, junior Saturn Trejo won gold with a total lift of 1020 lbs. (Squat:455, Bench:265, Dead Lift:300), setting a new personal best in the bench lift and in total lift (prev. 1015 lbs.). Similar to
Montoya, Trejo was standout competitor, Trejo won gold in all her meets except one meet this season where she came in 2nd place. She also had the team’s best total lift improvement this season with an increase of
180 lbs.
In the 242-weight class, sophomore Iyairy Guzman came in 8th place with a total lift of 895 lbs. (Squat:405, Bench:190, Dead Lift:300), setting a new personal best in the squat and in total lift (prev. 880 lbs.).
Guzman made solid improvements over her freshman year to qualify for state this season, expect her to medal in the future.
Overall, the PI girls’ team had a great performance competing at the State meet finishing #3 out of 55 schools. The top five order of finish was: 1. Robstown 22 points, 2. Giddings (17), 3. Port Isabel (14), 4.
Perryton (13), and 5. Silsbee (12).
Powerlifting head coach, John Calvillo who is on his second season coaching the sport was proud of the girl’s performances. “The girls did a great job from only taking one girl (to state) last year and this year
qualifying five girls. I don’t think anyone expected our girls to have two state champions and finishing 3rd place in the state.” Said Calvillo. “I think this is just the beginning of something special here in PI. These
girls (underclassmen) will return to state and finish what they started this year.”
The boy’s team will be competing at the THSPA Championship starting Friday, March 21-22 in Abilene, Texas.
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