Under the leadership of Head Coach Ilyan Martinez, the Natalia Lady Mustang Powerlifting program will be sending lifters to the Regional Meet for a 5th straight year. This coming Saturday, March 4th six Lady Mustangs along with one alternate will compete in Carrizo Springs at the Regional Lift Meet. This marks the most lifters regional bound during the five-year stretch and the most in the programs history.
“Our girls will be led this weekend by junior Julianna Morales as we head to our fifth consecutive regional meet,” Coach Ilyan Martinez said. “I look for our girls to continue the tradition and make a strong showing at the regional meet.”
The following is a break down on the seven Lady Mustangs who are Carrizo Springs bound per comments from Head Coach Ilyan Martinez.
Julianna Morales (132 lb. weight class): “JuJu will be attending her 3rd straight regional meet in our program this year and we expect her to lead our team like she has all year long,” Martinez said. “JuJu will have the opportunity to win her first regional title on Saturday and that is exactly what we expect from her. She is a veteran lifter who has competed at the highest level and I am excited for her to continue the tradition of our program as we head into the post season.”
This season, Morales has the following top lifts/total: 315 lb. squat, 150 lb. bench press, 320 lb. dead lift-785 lb. total.
Jasmine Gomez (114 lb. weight class): “Jasmine attended the regional meet as an alternate last year and it drove her to work hard and to have an opportunity to compete at regional as a senior,” Martinez said. “I am proud of the work she has put in and I am excited to see what she can get done at the regional meet.”
Top lifts for Gomez include a 270 lb. squat, a 140 lb. bench press, a 225 lb. dead lift for a combined 635 lb. total.
Iris Cantu (114 lb. weight class): “Iris has come on strong in her sophomore season really embracing her opportunity to continue the tradition for our girl’s program and will do a great job of representing our program at the regional meet,” Martinez said. “We look for her to have a great meet and punch her ticket to the state meet.”
Cantu has a year best squat of 260 lbs., a 140 lb. bench press, a 240 lb. dead lift for a combined 640 lb. total.
Samantha Sanchez (97 lb. weight class): “After just missing out on regional as a freshman, Sammy has worked extremely hard to get this opportunity and we look for her to improve her total and compete for a chance at the state meet,” Martinez said. “We have all the confidence she can get that done.”
Sanchez has accounted for a season best 210 lb. squat, a 110 lb. bench press, a 225 lb. dead lift for a 545 lb. total.
Anastasia Rodriguez (97 lb. weight class): “Ana will also be attending her second straight regional meet as a sophomore and has worked hard to get this opportunity after being sidelined with an injury for most of the year,” Martinez said. “We are excited where she is in her training and feel like she can really have an impact on the meet Saturday.”
This season, her best lifts include a 185 lb. squat, a 135 lb. bench press, a 195 lb. dead lift for a 515 lb. total.
Regina Garza (105 lb. weight class): “Reggie is attending her very first regional meet as a senior being a newcomer to the sport,” Martinez said. “I am really excited about the opportunity she has to compete for her first ever regional title.”
Garza’s best lifts include a 250 lb. squat, a 130 lb. bench press, a 275 lb. dead lift for a combined 655 lb. total.
Dezerae Perez (148 lb. weight class): “Dezerae has really come on at the end of her freshman season to compete at this year’s regional meet,” Martinez said. “As it stands right now, she will attend as an alternate, but she will be ready if the opportunity is there for her to compete.”
Her best lifts include a 300 lb. squat, a 115 lb. bench press, a 300 lb. dead lift for a 715 combined total.
“I have no doubt that these seven Lady Mustangs will represent our program and community with a Championship Mentality,” Martinez said. “We will lean on our veterans to help us accomplish our first ever girl’s regional championship on Saturday. All seven girls have earned the opportunity to represent our program and community. Our expectations will be for them to compete like they have all year and challenge the toughest kids in the state for the regional title.”
Regional Meet Saturday
The Regional Lift Meet will be this Saturday in Carrizo Springs. The meet will begin at 8:00 a.m. The Class 3A State Meet will be held March 18th in Waco at the Extraco Events Center. Last season, three Lady Mustangs qualified for the state meet (JuJu Morales, Jasmine Vasquez-graduated and Lilly Aguilar-graduated). Vasquez won the state title a season ago.
By Eric Smith
Staff Writer