The belts are strapped, and the weights are unracked in Pilot Point with the Bearcats and Lady Cats competing in their second Celina League Meet on Feb. 6.
The meet was originally set for Jan. 30 but was rescheduled to Feb. 6 because of the ice storm that affected the area, but the two teams battled through the changes, with all of the Pilot Point lifters finishing in the Top 5 of their respective weight classes at the event.
“They performed well, especially the boys on the boys’ side,” said Robby Perez, Pilot Point head powerlifting coach. “The boys just started a [unequipped] division this year, which the girls have already had, and every kid in our program is going to do that at least once, and we had some kids, who competed in the equipped division in the first meet, surprise themselves in this second one.”
Cole Krouskup got things rolling for the Bearcats, finishing first in the 132-pound weight class in the equipped division, with a total of 845 pounds lifted.
Buster Springer also competed in the equipped division, finishing first in the 148-pound weight class, lifting a total of 1,000 pounds.
Krouskup and Springer were the only Pilot Point lifters to compete in the equipped division at the event, which uses supportive gear during the lifts.
In the unequipped division, Everett Lebsack finished first in the 148-pound weight class, with a total of 910 pounds.
Christian Sheeder finished fourth in the 165-pound weight class, lifting a total of 820 pounds.
Josh Martinez took first in the 181-pound weight class, with a total of 930 pounds lifted.
Daniel Medrano had the highest weight total of 1,315 pounds for the Bearcats and finished first in the 198-pound weight class.
Mitchell Eddins also competed in the 198-pound weight class, placing second with a total of 1,135 pounds lifted.
Alex Ascencio earned third in the 198-pound weight class, lifting a total of 1,010 pounds.
Memo Esparza took first in the 220-pound weight class, with a total of 1,080 pounds lifted.
Connor Morris also competed in the 220-pound weight class, securing second place with a total of 795 pounds.
Lucas Herrera closed things out for the Bearcats, finishing second in the 275-pound weight class, lifting a total of 1,115 pounds.
On the girls’ side, all of whom compete unequipped, Camilla Medrano finished first in the 114-pound weight class with a total of 520 pounds lifted.
Vanessa Escalante finished first in the 123-pound weight class, lifting a total of 555 pounds.
Newcomer Raven Glacy finished first in the 165-pound weight class with a total of 460 pounds lifted.
Alliyah Smith finished first in the 220-pound weight class, lifting a total of 720 pounds.
Lillie Kirby finished third in the 220-pound weight class with a total of 620 pounds lifted.
The Top 12 lifters in the region earn the right to compete at the regional meet, and six of the Bearcats—Krouskup, Springer, Lebsack, Daniel, Eddins and Esparza—and four of the Lady Cats—Camilla, Escalante, Smith and Kirby—are currently ranked among the Top 10 lifters in the region.
With the solid start to the season, Perez said the team plans to use each additional meet as an opportunity to continue improving.
“In our first meet, we were really trying to find our footing,” he said. “Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, we wanted to focus on our season-long goal in the second meet. We used this one to give us a better understanding of where we stand as far as the regional standings, so if anyone is on the lower end, we can work to move up and stay in the Top 12 to become a regular qualifier.”
The Bearcats and Lady Cats powerlifting teams’ next event is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday in Celina.
