Natalia claims 2nd place at home lifting meet

The Natalia powerlifting team: Dustin Soto, Isaac Rios, Julie Rivera, Ally Chavana, Wyatt Owens,
Fabian Ruiz, Isaiah Gomez, Hailey Manka, Julia Owens, Sam Sanchez, Dezerae Perez, Kara Chapa, Bry Perez,
Gabby Contreras, Ana Rodriguez, KK Lara, Gabby Santoya, Juju Morales, Julian Martinez, Matt Contreras,
Monique Leija, Uriel Arellano, Oscar Ramirez, Diego Zapata, Jeremiah Gomez, Evy Curel, Diego Hernandez,
Saul Valadez, Victor Castenda, Joel Mendez, Sam Lemus, Matt Manka, Chance Lamb, Mia Sanchez, Joel Rios,
Xavier Vasquez, Ryan Juarez, Vincent Cruz, Manny Padilla, Vic Cruz, Caden Fregia, Kameron Frias, Sophia Almendariz,
Paul Billalobos.

For the first time in 7+ seasons, the Natalia Mustang Powerlifting program hosted a meet. Eight schools from the area attended the meet which proved to be successful for the boys and girls in blue who claimed 2nd place team finishes. In addition, dedicated former lifters from Natalia along with community members and coaches pitched in a ton of effort and energy which complimented eight business sponsorships to make Saturday one huge success.
“Our boys and girls program both took 2nd place as a team and they performed really well individually to start off our season,” Coach Martinez said. “We look forward to using the results from this meet as a starting point as we continue to build and carry on the tradition of championships here at Natalia I.S.D.”
Natalia Mustangs- The defending state champion Mustangs had a start to their season as 26 lifters competed for the boys in blue. Natalia finished with 30 team points which was good enough for 2nd behind traditionally tough Cotulla who finished with 54. Natalia did finish ahead of Dilley (23), Medina Valley (20), Poteet (15), Lytle (13), Brooks Academy (10), Center Point (6) and Hondo (5).
Two Mustangs were able to claim gold medals as Manuel Padilla was the first to do so. He finished 1st in the 132 lb. weight class with a 1,100 lb. total. This total was comprised of a 425 lb. squat, a 225 lb. bench press and a 450 lb. dead lift.
The second and final Mustang to win the gold was Victor Cruz in the Super Heavy Weight with a 1,215 lb. total. His total included a 450 lb. squat, a 305 lb. bench press and a 460 lb. dead lift.
Other results for the Stangs:
114 lb. weight class: Wyatt Owens- 4th place: 165 lb. squat, 75 lb. bench press, 195 lb. dead lift-435 lb. total.
132 lb. weight class: Evy Curiel- 5th place: 270 lb. squat, 155 lb. bench press, 300 lb. dead lift-725 lb. total.
148 lb. weight class: Saul Valadez- 6th place: 340 lb. squat, 165 lb. bench press, 365 lb. dead lift- 870 lb. total. Ryan Juarez- 7th place: 325 squat, 180 lb. bench press, 355 lb. dead lift-860 lb. total. Isaac Rios- 8th place: 260 lb. squat, 150 lb. bench press, 305 lb. dead lift- 715 lb. total. Also competed Xavier Vasquez.
165 lb. weight class: Matt Contreras- 7th place: 360 lb. squat, 190 lb. bench press, 390 lb. dead lift-940 lb. total. Diego Zapata- 8th place: 365 lb. squat, 190 lb. dead lift, 365 lb. dead lift- 920 lb. total.
181 lb. weight class: Joel Rios- 4th place: 365 lb. squat, 220 lb. bench press, 425 lb. dead lift-1,010 total. Victor Castaneda- 7th place: 270 lb. squat, 175 lb. bench press, 300 lb. dead lift- 745 lb. total.
198 lb. weight class: Isaiah Gomez- 7th place: 395 lb. squat, 215 lb. bench press, 400 lb. dead lift- 1,010 lb. total. Fabian Ruiz-11th place: 360 lb. squat, 175 lb. bench press, 350 lb. dead lift-885 lb. total.
220 lb. weight class: Chance Lamb-5th place: 425 lb. squat, 265 lb. bench press, 415 lb. dead lift-1,105 lb. total. Kameron Frias-6th place: 425 lb. squat, 235 lb. bench press, 425 lb. dead lift-1,085 lb. total. Michael Martinez-7th place: 450 lb. squat, 225 lb. bench press, 360 lb. dead lift-1,035 lb. total. Jeremiah Gomez-9th place: 375 squat, 235 lb. bench press, 405 lb. dead lift-1,015 lb. total. Matthew Manka- 10th place: 375 lb. squat, 225 lb. bench press, 375 lb. dead lift-975 lb. total.
242 lb. weight class: Uriel Arellano-3rd place: 425 lb squat, 305 lb. bench press, 375 lb. dead lift-1,105 lb. total. Vincent Cruz-6th place: 375 lb. squat, 190 lb. bench press, 335 lb. dead lift-900 lb. total. Dustin Soto-7th place: 340 lb. squat, 190 lb. bench press, 315 lb. dead lift- 845 lb. total.
275 lb. weight class: Oscar Ramirez-2nd: 455 lb. squat, 305 lb. bench press, 460 lb. dead lift-1,220 lb. total. Paul Billalobos-4th place: 535 lb. squat, 245 lb. bench press, 425 lb. dead lift-1,205 lb. total.
Lady Mustangs
On the girls side of things, Brooks Academy was able to edge the girls in blue out of 1st as the Lady Bengals accounted for 58 team points compared to 32 by Natalia. Cotulla was next in line with 31. Other team results: Dilley (26), Center Point (21), Medina Valley (18), Lytle (12) and Poteet (5).
Natalia’s Anastasia Rodriguez led the way for the girls in blue as she claimed the lone gold with a 585 lb. total in her 105 lb. weight class. Her total included a 215 lb. squat, a 145 lb. bench press and a 225 lb. dead lift.
Other results for the Lady Stangs:
97 lb. weight class: Sam Sanchez-2nd place: 205 lb. squat, 115 lb. bench press, 230 lb. dead lift-550 lb. total. Julia Owens-5th place: 185 lb. squat, 90 lb. bench press, 220 lb. dead lift-495 lb. total.
114 lb. weight class: Bryanna Perez-2nd place: 255 lb. squat, 125 lb. bench press, 245 lb. dead lift-625 lb. total. Hailey Manka-8th place: 160 lb. squat, 105 lb. bench press, 165 lb. dead lift-430 lb. total.
132 lb. weight class: JuJu Morales-2nd place: 310 lb. squat, 165 lb. bench press, 285 lb. dead lift-760 lb. total. Gabby Contreras-6th place: 215 lb. squat, 105 lb. bench press, 240 lb. dead lift-560 lb. total. Ally Chavana-8th place: 195 lb. squat, 105 lb. bench press, 205 lb. dead lift-505 lb. total. Kara Chapa-9th place: 185 lb. squat, 115 lb. bench press, 195 lb. dead lift-495 lb. total.
148 lb. weight class: Dezarae Perez-5th place: 240 lb. squat, 120 lb. bench press, 270 lb. dead lift-630 lb. total. Sofia Almendarez-7th place: 270 lb. squat, 125 lb. bench press, 205 lb. dead lift-600 lb. total. Samantha Lemus-9th place: 200 lb. squat, 115 lb. bench press, 275 lb. dead lift-590 lb. total. Julie Rivera-10th place: 225 lb. squat, 115 lb. bench press, 225 lb. dead lift-565 lb. total. Kaelyn Lara-12th place: 195 lb. squat, 110 lb. bench press, 200 lb. dead lift-505 lb. total.
165 lb. weight class: Gabby Santoya-3rd place: 320 lb. squat, 125 lb. bench press, 265 lb. dead lift-710 lb. total.
220 lb. weight class: Monique Leija-2nd place: 230 lb squat, 135 lb. bench press, 280 lb. dead lift-645 lb. total.
Rounding out the Meet
According to Coaches Ilyan Martinez and Tara Cortinas, this meet was a huge success in terms of results, but they have high expectations and are a ways from their end result.
Aside from the athletes, the coaches wanted to thank the following sponsors who helped make this meet possible: CD Tire and Muffler, Chaparral Ford, Mustang Electric, Saldana Construction, Dr. Hack-Lytle Family Practice, North Park Chevrolet Sales-Eric Smith, The Devine News and Mustang Wash.
The following former Natalia Powerlifting athletes were judges for the competition: Jay Vasquez, Regina Garza, Brianna Escamilla, Lily Aguilar, Santi Leija, Jasmine Gomez, Ray Navarro, Oziel Padilla, Alex Paredes, Sonny Pacheco, Andre Hernandez, Jon Lara, Raul Loza, Jorge Saldana and Manuel Saldana Jr. Also NJH Principal Edgar Camacho along with his son AJ Camacho assisted in judging.
Staff members who worked the meet included Marissa Saldana, Manuel Saldana, Jose Cortinas, Sam Andrade, Travis Crowley, Michelle Mendez, Diane Mendez, Nathaniel Jenkins, Megan Woodall, William Mayes, Jeff Terry, Megan Terry, Debbie Martinez, Stephen Davis, Elvia Loza and Eric Calloway.
“Without our former athletes, coaches, staff members and sponsorships, this meet would not have been possible,” Coach Martinez said.
Natalia returns to action on January 20th when they travel to the Strawberry Capital to compete in Poteet.
By Eric Smith