Rodriquez wins bronze at State, team finishes season
By Melissa McCaghren
Slatonite GM
Slaton Tigerette powerlifter Paige Rodriguez came home with a State medal Thursday afternoon (March 16), winning bronze in the 114 Weight Class at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association State Powerlifting meet in Frisco.
She placed third overall, lifting a total of 775 pounds.
Head Coach Albert Lopez was impressed with P. Rodriguez’ performance.
“Paige worked hard all year and I’m happy with the way she competed at State,” he said.
P. Rodriguez, along with fellow lifters Destiny Doss, Karime Portillo, Jaclyn Loera and Sierra Rodriquez, qualified for the State meet at Regional March 2 in Shamrock.
Other finishes were:
Portillo, 14th place in weight class 165 with a total of 775 pounds.
S. Rodriguez, eighth place in weight class 181 with 920 total pounds.
Loera, 11th place in weight class 181 with a total of 850 pounds.
Doss bombed out in the contest and did not have a total.
Lopez said that three of the lifters beat personal bests from the season. “Paige beat her total and jumped up 20 pounds,” he said. “Karime jumped 5 pounds, and Sierra had the biggest jump of 65 pounds.”
He added too the five, along with the rest of the team, was a good group this year. “(They are a ) good group of girls. Just watching them compete and give it their all was a great experience. Making it to State is a great accomplishment,” said Lopez.
The Tigerette team rounds out a season with several first place titles, and a third place overall Regional title.
Those on the powerlifting team were P. Rodriquez, Doss, Portillo, Loera, S. Rodriquez, Sirena Martinez, Jordyn Hogan, Victoria Mireles, Makenna Polozola, Jazlyen Perez-Whaley and Aubri Salas.
Lopez said he would miss his seniors next year – Loera, P. Rodriquez and S. Rodriquez. “I’ve been coaching this group for the past 4 years. I’m going to miss them and what they brought to the program. They worked hard and loved the sport,” he said.
“Jaclyn, Paige, and Sierra are back to back State Qualifiers. As far as next year we have a good group coming back and I’m ready to see what we can accomplish moving forward.”
But the chance for Slaton to take home medals is not quite over yet.
The two Tiger state qualifers, Bryson Salazar and Daniel Leyva, are competing today (Thursday, March 23) at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association meet in Abilene.
Results of the boys meet will be in next week’s edition.
