Leyva places 9th at State, Powerlifting finishes season

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

The Slaton Tigers completed their Powerlifting season at State Friday (March 24) during the Texas High School Powerlifting Association’s State meet in Abilene.

Daniel Leyva placed ninth in weight class 242 with a total of 1,565 pounds.

Head Coach Albert Lopez said that while Leyva may have placed ninth in State to finish his season, he improved on his season best, and on top of a Region record marker.

“Daniel Leyva placed ninth overall and increased his bench by five pounds,” he said. “He set the Regional record at Regionals with a 440 pound bench.”

Bryson Salazar, who lifted in weight class 165, bombed out on the squat.

Lopez said the State meets were special, which saw a total of seven lifters compete, five for the girls and two for the boys.

“The whole state meet experience is special. It takes a lot of hard work and competing to get there,” he said.

Now, Lopez is looking toward next year, but will miss his seniors.

“The Seniors were all competitive and pushed each other every day. They love the sport and helped and motivated the younger lifters,” he said.

The future looks bright however for those who are still going to be lifting in the 2024 season.

“We have six underclassmen that made regionals coming back so I believe that will carry over to next season,” said Lopez.

The Tigers finish their season with several first place trophies at meets, culminating in a fourth place finish and bench record set at the Regional meet.