The Pilot Point Lady Cats powerlifting team left it all on the floor, finishing fifth overall at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Region 6 Unequipped Regional Meet on March 4.
The Lady Cats’ four top lifters traveled to Sadler and tested their mettle against competitors from 39 other North Texas schools, 1A-6A, with three of the Lady Cats clawing their way to the state meet.
“They did awesome,” Pilot Point head powerlifting coach Robby Perez said. “It’s a full day of emotions for the girls. Some of them are just happy to be there, and some believe they really have a shot. Our goal was for everybody to go home with a medal, and we accomplished that.”
The Lady Cats’ team competes in the unequipped division, which allows minimal support gear to be used by lifters, and only the Top 2 of each weight class qualify for the state meet.
Junior Alliyah Smith was the Lady Cats’ top performer at the event, taking gold in the 198-pound weight class, with a weight total of 765 pounds.
“I did not expect to get first because I was not doing well in the beginning,” she said. “When we got to deadlift, I thought, ‘There’s no way I can catch up,’ but it came down to me having to lift 10 pounds more than the girl sitting in first. She wasn’t able to get her last lift up, but I was able to pull my last attempt and pass her.”
Juniors Vanessa Escalante and Ca- mila Medrano finished second and third in the 114-pound weight class.
Escalante and Medrano tied with a weight total of 565 pounds, earning both a spot at the state meet, but Escalante was awarded the silver medal for weighing in with a lighter body weight.
“It was unexpected because my goal was to get third,” Escalante said. “… When I get to state, I just hope I get most of my lifts and get some new personal records.”
Medrano shared her excitement for the moment.
“Going into it I didn’t think I was that strong compared to the other girls,” she said. “I would check the website and think, ‘They’re going to catch up to me,’ so I’ve been working every day to get better, and even though I was scared, I liked it.”
Junior Lillie Kirby closed things out for the Lady Cats, finishing fourth in the 220-pound weight class, lifting a total of 635 pounds.
“Last year I was 11th in the region and barely qualified for regionals, and it was not a good day for me,” she said. “This year I changed my mindset and proved to myself that I earned my spot here, and going from 11th last year to fourth this year feels like a pretty big deal in my book.”
Smith, Escalante and Medrano will compete against the best the state has to offer at the THSWPA State Meet March 1821 at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.
