Powerlifting season is well underway in Aubrey, and the Lady Chaps are off to a strong start, bringing home the first-place trophy from an invitational meet hosted by S&S Consolidated High School on Feb. 5.
The Lady Chaps faced off with 20 other teams from the area and powered their way to the top spot.
“I was really proud of my kids,” said Ron Gathright, Aubrey girls athletic coordinator and head girls powerlifting coach. “We finished first over some really good teams, and overall, the girls put up some big numbers and continued to be successful, and the end result was us getting first place.”
Matiana Walter took first place in the 97-pound weight class, lifting a total of 645 pounds, including a new personal best of 150 pounds in the bench press.
Presley Howard earned first place in the 114-pound weight class, lifting a total of 715 pounds, including a new personal best of 180 pounds in the bench press.
Asia’h Dallas finished second in the same weight class, lifting a total of 690 pounds, including a new personal best of 280 pounds in squat.
Bianca Bertolani secured third in the 123-pound weight class, with an overall total of 730 pounds lifted.
Paula Pannuzzo finished seventh in the same weight class, with a total of 675 pounds.
New lifter Aislynn Chavez competed in her first meet, finishing seventh in the 132-pound weight class, lifting a total of 605 pounds.
Rowyn Millington, Stella Lawler, Skyla Morgan and Emily Wright also competed in the 132-pound weight class.
Millington finished ninth with a total of 600 pounds, Lawler finished with a total of 570 pounds, Morgan finished with a total of 565 pounds, and Wright finished with a total of 515 pounds.
Alaya Harnett finished eighth in the 148-pound weight class, with a total of 730 pounds.
Maria Peraza and Addison Venable also competed in the 148-pound weight class, finishing with totals of 620 pounds and 435 pounds, respectively.
Emma Cano placed fourth in the 165-pound weight class, lifting a total of 785 pounds.
Brandi Tovar, Maggie Daniel and Libby Collins also competed in the 165-pound weight class.
Tovar finished fifth with a total of 760 pounds, including new personal bests of 180 pounds in bench press and 280 pounds in deadlift.
Daniel lifted a total of 675 pounds, and Collins lifted a total of 630 pounds.
Ella Burton secured silver in the 181-pound weight class, lifting a total of 845 pounds.
Naomi Nkwodinma also secured silver in the 198-pound weight class, lifting a total of 1,050 pounds.
Natalie Luna finished fourth in the 220-pound weight class, with a total of 720 pounds.
Jaida McCoy earned second place in the 242-pound weight class, lifting a total of 815 pounds.
Isabella Hunt finished third in the same weight class, lifting a total of 790 pounds, including new personal bests of 325 pounds in squat and 300 pounds in deadlift.
Haylee Moon won gold in the 242+ weight class, lifting a total of 1,175 pounds, including a 500-pound squat.
Gathright shared his hopes that the Lady Chaps’ hot start will help them prepare as the competition picks up.
“We have 31 girls in the regional rankings, and we have several girls that are in the Top 5 in the rankings, so we want to just put ourselves in the best position going into regionals to give us every opportunity to make the State meet,” he said.
The Lady Chaps’ next meet was scheduled for Thursday at Prosper High School.
The results were not available by press time.
