The Natalia Lady Mustang Powerlifting program had another great showing at the THSWPA Region 5 Division III Meet last Friday in Robstown. Out of the nine lifters who competed for the girls in blue, six were able to qualify for the state meet.
“We are extremely proud of our Lady Mustang team for capturing 4th at the Regional Meet,” Coach Kasey Crowther said. “Three of the six lifters who qualified for the state meet, were also able to medal including our Regional Champion Samantha Sanchez.”
As mentioned, Sam Sanchez is state bound after capturing 1st place in the 97 lb. weight class thanks to a 640 lb. total. Her total included a 260 lb. squat, a 135 lb. bench press and a 245 lb. dead lift. The closest competition to Sanchez was Oretga from Edinburg College Prep who finished with a 635 lb. total.
Dezarea Perez was able to claim 2nd place in the 165 lb. weight class, thanks to a 920 lb. total. She was edged by San Diego’s Rodriguez who finished with a 980 total. Perez finished with a 350lb. squat, a 215 lb. bench press and a 355 lb. dead lift.
The final Lady Mustang who medaled was Jasmine Ramon, who won 3rd place in the 198 lb. weight class. She used a 415 lb. squat, a 170 lb. bench press and a 345 lb. dead lift to account for her 930 lb. total. She was edged out by San Diego’s Gallegos who finished with a 1,060 lb total and Bishop’s Guerra who finished with a 1000 lb. total.
Other Lady Mustangs who qualified for state included Freshman Meg Martinez who finished in 6th place in the 105 lb. weight class. She used a 255 lb. squat, a 155 lb. bench press and a 225 lb. dead lift to account for a 635 state qualifying total.
Julia Owens finished in 9th, but hit her qualifying total with 625 lbs as well. She used a 240 lb. squat, a 130 lb. bench press and a 255 lb. dead lift.
The final Lady Mustang to qualify for state was Gabrielle Santoya who did so in the 165 lb. weight class. She used a 315 lb. squat, a 195 lb. bench press and a 315 lb. dead lift to account for an 825 lb. total. She also finished in 7th out of her weight class out of 13 lifters.
Lady Mustang senior and first time lifter Zita Perez competed well in the 181 lb. weight class. She claimed 7th out of 12 lifters with a 750 lb. total. Her total included a 315 lb. squat, a 150 lb. bench press and a 275 lb. dead lift.
“These girls are a great representation of what a championship culture looks like and we are excited to see how they match up against the best in the state,” Crowther said.
We will have a state preview for these six Lady Stangs in next week’s Devine News.
Natalia finished in 4th as a team with 15 team points. San Diego won Regional with 28 points followed by Edinburg Idea College Prep-18 and Bishop-17. Mathis came in 4th behind Natalia as Freer won 5th.
By Eric Smith