After qualifying at the Regional Powerlifting Meet, seven students advanced to State Competition on Friday, March 15, in Corpus Christi at the Ameribank Convention Center.

“I love everything about (powerlifting) because it’s a different type of sport,” Nwakanma said. “It’s not all about who (is) the strongest; it’s literally about mental toughness and who performs best that day.”

Thirteen girls went to Regionals.

“Typically, we are in the top three in our region,” Coach Ricardo Rendon said. “We usually win every meet we compete in; this year, we are young and our girls are competing well.”

Rendon said they were competing against Wylie and Cedar Hill.

“With other schools actually having an athletic period it is getting harder,” he said. “They are able to workout year round and we only get three months a year for our season so that puts (us) at a disadvantage from the get go.”

Since weight can be a major factor in powerlifting, many students try to make a certain class because it puts them in a position to place in competition.

“If you can’t drop a class, you’ll be at the bottom of the weight class which means you’ll be with bigger and stronger people,” junior Ryan Peschka said. “It’ll be tougher to place. If you’re lighter and you lift the same weight as a heavier lifter, you’ll be ahead of them because you weigh less. Ideally, you want to be in the upper part of the weight.”

Nwakanma said that there is much stress that comes with not making weight and admits to using numerous methods to lose weight.

“I’ve done it all,” she said. “From weighing in naked to running miles or even sprinting in seven layers of clothes with saran wrap and trash bags on.”

Rendon said he understands the sensitivity of the issue.

“With girls, weight loss is something I don’t push,” he said. “I have them lift in whatever weight class they fall in. We don’t do any extreme methods.”

Powerlifting covers a range of categories that each require their own type of training.

“We have specific days to do specific lifts for different muscle groups,” Peschka said. “Monday is bench, shoulder and upper body. Tuesday is squat, deadlift, quads, hamstrings, hips, grip and lower body (usually our biggest day of lifting). Wednesday (is an) auxiliary day that works out all the soreness we have before the meet on Thursdays.”

In contrast to team sports, powerlifting can focus more on an individual.

“Every meet we compete in we have a chance to win if every lifter improves and gives us their best,” Rendon said.

Senior Daine Carreon said Rendon has been supportive.

“There (are) 20 to 30 girls, but he is still there for each one of (us),” she said.

At first, Carreon said she didn’t want to lift because of the taboo that comes with girls getting buff.
“It actually tones your body and helps you build character,” she said.

Sophomore Maddie Prestridge had more of a personal reason to participate.

“A lot of people told me I couldn’t do it because of my small frame, so it made me want to prove them wrong,” she said.

With the upcoming state meet, Nwakanma said she tries to stay as calm as possible.

“The day of, I mentally prepare myself,” she said. “I always set goals for myself and even my team. I think of myself as competition.”

Due to the short season, Rendon said attendance, among other factors, is the key to success.

He said, “Regardless of how strong you are, it takes strong will and a lot of dedication with strong work ethic.”