Three Mustangs qualify for the powerlifting state meet
Going to the Boys Powerlifting Region II Division I Championship on March 12, Marble Falls High School head coach Robert Draper had a hunch it was going to be a great day for the Mustangs. And he was right.
Three of the four lifters are on their way to the state meet on Saturday, March 26, at the Taylor County Expo Center, 1700 Texas 36 in Abilene.
“We went in with a plan,” Draper said. “We went in knowing those three guys could get a qualifying total at regionals to advance to state. The kids stuck to the plan, and they executed all that.”
The state qualifiers are seniors Enrique Reyes and twins Joe and Jacob Maldonado.
Reyes finished second in the 132-pound weight class by lifting a total weight of 1,135 pounds. The coach noted Reyes had been deadlifting 420 pounds but felt so good that he wanted to deadlift more. By the end, he had deadlifted 455 pounds.
“He made it look fairly easy,” Draper said. “We think he has more in the tank.”
Joe Maldonado placed second in the 198-pound weight class thanks to lifting a total weight of 1,590 pounds highlighted by his 665-pound squat.
Jacob Maldonado was third in the 220-pound weight class by lifting a total amount of 1,560 pounds highlighted by his 590-pound deadlift. But his total weight lifted was among the best in the state, which gave him a state berth.
The coach noted these three lifters had their seasons end at regionals a year ago, so it was gratifying to see them advance.
“These kids are pretty good,” he said. “They all wanted to go to state, so they went all in. We’ve attained that goal. Now our goals are to get medals at state.”
Sophomore Josue Garcia was 12th in the 181-pound weight class thanks to lifting a total of 1,300 pounds to end his season. Draper noted Garcia was ranked 12th in his weight class in the region.
“He had to deadlift 585 pounds,” the coach said. “He got it off the ground and couldn’t lock it. He competed like he was supposed to.”
While the state meet is two weeks away, students are on Spring Break this week, so there aren’t organized practices. But Draper noted these athletes lift on their own thanks to local gym memberships and coaches will be on campus some, too.
“We’ll take a couple of days off and tell them they can come and lift on their own,” Draper said. “They’ve been dedicated all year. We’ll come back after Spring Break, and we’ll lift until that Thursday (March 24).”
Draper noted he took more lifters to the meet knowing they wouldn’t compete. But he wanted to give them a glimpse of what competing at regionals is all about and inspire them to keep working.
“Next year, they’re the ones competing,” he said.
Results
132-pound weight class
2, Enrique Reyes, 445-pound squat-235-pound bench press-455-pound deadlift–1,135 total pounds
181-pound weight class
12, Josue Garca, 465-pound squat-300-pound bench press-535-pound deadlift–1,300 total pounds
198-pound weight class
2, Joe Maldonado, 665-pound squat-345-pound bench press-580-deadlift–1,590 total pounds
220-pound weight class
3, Jacob Maldonado, 585-pound squat-385-pound bench press-590-pound deadlift–1,560 total pounds
