All six Lady Mustangs qualify for State powerlifting meet

Regina Garza won 1st place at the Regional powerlifting meet. Garza and fellow Lady Mustang powerlifters JuJu Morales, Anatasia Rodriguez, Iris Cantu, Sam Sanchez, and Jasmine Gomez all qualified for the State meet. More powerlifting photos are online at our SmugMug gallery!

Records are made to be broken and that is exactly what members of the Natalia Lady Mustang Powerlifting program are doing.
Last Saturday, a program record six lifters competed in the Region 5 Powerlifting Competition in Carrizo Springs at their beautiful new gymnasium.
The girls in blue had one thing on their mind and that was to break another program record. Coming into this meet, the most lifters to qualify for the state lift meet was three which was accomplished a season ago.
At the end of a competitive Saturday which showcased nearly 50 schools with nearly 200 lifters, all six Lady Mustangs were able to qualify for the state meet which shattered last year’s record.
As a team, the Lady Mustangs finished in 6th place with 13 team points.
“Our girls competed very well this past weekend in Carrizo Springs,” Coach Ilyan Martinez said. “Going into the meet, we had one goal and that was whoever we took to regional, we wanted to take to state and that is exactly what we did.”
Lady Mustang Senior Regina Garza led the way for the girls in blue, as the first year lifters was phenomenal capturing not only a Regional Title in the 105 lb. weight class, but the best light weight dead lifter award.
Garza used a 275 lb. squat, a 135 lb. bench press and a 300 lb. dead lift to account for her 710 lb. total.
“Regina had been 2nd all year long in the region, but when she had the opportunity she did not disappoint,” Martinez said.
Next up for the Lady Mustangs in term of finishes, as junior JuJu Morales who is state bound for a second straight season. Morales was able to capture 2nd place in the 132 lb. weight class with a 790 lb. total.
“JuJu started slow in squat and fell behind, but her next six attempts in the last two lifts to fuel her to a 2nd place finish,” Martinez said.
Morales finished with a 290 lb. squat, a 165 lb. bench press and a 335 lb. dead lift. She was edged out by Dilley’s Alee Ruiz who had lifts of 355-165-335-790 lb. total.
Other finishes
97 lb. weight class: Samantha Sanchez (5th place/ State qualifying total) 210 lb. squat, 115 lb. bench press, 240 lb. dead lift-565 lb. total; Anastasia Rodriguez (7th place/ State Qualifying Total) 215 lb. squat, 135 lb. bench press, 200 lb. dead lift-550 lb. total.
114 lb. weight class: Iris Cantu (6th place/ State Qualifying Total) 300 lb. squat, 140 lb. bench press, 250 lb. dead lift-690 lb. total; Jasmine Gomez 275 lb. squat, 145 lb. bench press, 255 lb. dead lift-675 lb. total.
“I was proud of all of the girls and how they approached the day,” Martinez said. “For most of the girls, it was their first regional meet and I thought they handled the big stage with some character. Now we will take an all-time high six lifters to compete at the state level and try to do something special. The girls have worked hard all year to put themselves in this position and I am excited about the opportunity that awaits them.”
Team Finishes
As mentioned, the Lady Mustangs finished in 6th place out of over 50 teams in attendance with 13 team points. Natalia trailed Region 5 Champion San Diego (45), Hebbronville (24), Brooks Academy (21), Cotulla (19) and Mathis (14).
The Lady Mustangs did finish ahead of Skidmore-Tynan, Yoakum, LaPryor, Dilley, Center Point, Yorktown, Bishop, Edinburg College Prep, Kenedy, Freer, Weimar, Poth and a host of others from all around South Texas.
State Meet
The Class 3A State Powerlifting Meet will be held on Saturday, March 18th at the Waco Extraco Events Center. We will have a State Preview in next week’s Devine News.

By Eric Smith
Staff Writer