Powerlifting season is reaching its apex for the Aubrey Lady Chaparrals after the Lady Chaps finished third at the Region 6 Division 2 4A Large Championships on Feb. 27.
Thirty-six Lady Chaps lifters participated at the event hosted by Decatur High School, with multiple members of the team finishing in the Top 5 and eight Lady Chaps qualifying for the state meet.
“The girls competed extremely well, put up a lot of weight, and we had multiple girls medal in the meet, so I was very proud of them,” said Ron Gathright, Aubrey girls athletic coordinator and head girls powerlifting coach.
Matiana Walter set the bar early for the Lady Chaps, taking gold in the 97-pound weight class with a total of 680 pounds lifted.
Walter, who will be making her fourth appearance at the state meet, spoke highly of her and her teammates’ return to the state meet.
“We’ve put in so much effort, and it feels like our efforts have been fulfilled,” she said. “We work really hard as a team, and this is the one sport that I’ve always felt like is more of a family. The connections and the bonds we’ve made, you won’t find them anywhere else, and we couldn’t do this without each other.”
Zoe Fikes placed third in the 97-pound weight class, lifting a total of 600 pounds and earning a spot at the state meet.
Cloe Higgs placed third in the 105-pound weight class with a weight total of 515 pounds.
Asia’h Dallas finished fourth in the 114-pound weight class, earning a spot at the state meet with a weight total of 725 pounds.
Dallas, who is making her first appearance at the state meet, shared her excitement for making the cut.
“I’ve been working for this goal since I joined the team three years ago, and I finally get the chance to show what I can do,” she said. “… I just want to give it my all and hit all of the [personal records] that I can.”
Presley Howard placed sixth in the 114-pound weight class, lifting a total of 710 pounds and qualifying to compete at the state meet.
Bianca Bertolani took third in the 123-pound weight class, qualifying for the state meet with a total weight total of 765 pounds.
Aislynn Chavez finished fifth in the 132-pound weight class with a total weight of 650 pounds. Alaya Harnett secured second in the 148-pound weight class, earning a spot at the state meet with a weight total of 770 pounds.
Harnett shared how her silver medal finish came down to the wire.
“On my last lift I really wanted to make sure I quali- fied for state, so I went up to 305 [pounds],” she said. “When I got the weight up, I felt like I accomplished something very special. I’m going to state, and I’ve been working really hard to get there.”
Emma Cano finished fourth in the 165-pound weight class, with a weight total of 785 pounds.
Ella Burton secured second in the 181-pound weight class and a spot at the state meet, with a weight total of 870 pounds.
Mariah Saldiver placed third in the 220-pound weight class, lifting a total of 750 pounds.
Isabella Strickland and Samantha Barreintos finished fourth and fifth in the 220-pound weight class.
Jaida McCoy and Isabella Hunt finished fourth and fifth in the 242-pound weight class, with weight totals of 850 and 750 pounds, respectively.
Haylee Moon was the final Lady Chap state qualifier, taking first in the 242+ weight class, lifting 1,165 pounds.
Moon also set the new regional record in her weight class with a 335-pound bench press.
Samantha Rebhan, Alyssa Waddell, Ziva Mc-Gee, Rowyn Millington, Skyla Morgan, Stella Lawler, Madeline Seward, Taylor Tepfer, Presley Stegall, Kensie Bonnell, Brandi Tovar, Kaimee Egesa, Hadley Booth, Logan Smith and Naomi Nkwodinma also competed at the event and helped the Lady Chaps finish third in the region.
The Lady Chaps’ eight state qualifiers—Walter, Fikes, Dallas, Howard, Bertolani, Harnett, Burton and Moon—will compete at the THSWPA 2026 State Championships at 1:30 p.m. March 20 at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.
Aubrey head girls powerlifting coach Ron Gathright embraces Lady Chap Alaya Harnett after she powered her way to a silver medal finish at the regional meet Feb. 27. Martin Edwards/The Post-Signal
