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State Champ
Photo Credit: Matt Woods
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Written by Bayley Bowser
Junior Octavia Hill won the State Championship of Power-lifting in Corpus Christi on Saturday March 19th. At the State Meet Octavia squatted of 440, benched 195, and dead lifted of 450. Hill beat out 1,190 people in her weight class throughout Texas.
“Winning state felt like a great accomplishment,” junior Hill said. “It’s something I’ve wanted since freshman year but sadly I fell short freshman year.”
Hill knew she had the strength and drive to succeed. Hill has participated in power-lifting for three years including this year. She has trained from November and all through out the season.
“I worked at power-lifting from November and throughout the season. I put in the extra time,” Octavia said.
Power-lifting coach Ricardo Rendon set goals for Hill to beat her original scores and make new ones. He wanted Hill to excel and show everyone how she power lifts.
“We have been pretty lucky here at Timberview with a couple of regional qualifiers and state qualifiers, but, to be where we are at now with six qualifiers and an alternate, it’s just awesome,” Rendon said.
Luckily this season Hill did not get an injury. Octavia committed her mind and took care of her body. Her teammates got injured but she did not want to join the club.
“It feels like we would have a little state jinx this year. We had it the last time,” Rendon said. “But our goal is to finish in the top three and keep improving.”
Hill and the other power lifters had an secret weapon. They shared an practice space with the boys. They worked side-by-side against the guys Monday though Thursday. It helped them have healthy competition.
“The guys will get mad because sometimes we will do more weight,” said junior Octavia Hill, “It’s all in good fun, though, because we really encourage each other to do well.”
Octavia had worked since her freshman year to win state. When she found out she won, her emotions ran high. Her Coach had always had faith in her.
“We were excited and he was really proud of me, but also set goals to beat my best scores,” Octavia said.
Octavia has power lifted sense her freshman year here. She has grown and gotten stronger and more confident in herself ans her power-lifting. She worked hard to achieve this goal.
“I knew I had the strength and drive in me to succeed. My competitive spirit pushed me to keep going,” Hill said.
Power-lifting ran in Octavia’s family. Both her sister and brother competed and had a role position in power-lifting. She had the support system to succeed.
“My brother and sister lifted also,” Hill said. “My sister was caption of power-lifting in 2008.”
Criticism, judging and points all consume power-lifting. Octavia did not have her feelings hurt or on her shoulder when judges criticised her twice on her swat.
“I wanted to quit after the judges called me twice on my swat, but seeing my teammates route for me an everyone in the stands calling my name,” Octavia said. “I pushed through and rode the wave of excitement to victory.”
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