Dublin's Price third in class at state powerlifting meet

While the Taylor County Expo Center was a hive of activity on Saturday, with a large crowd gathered to watch the state’s top high school powerlifters, it was relatively quiet for area competitors.

The Big Country, which has commonly captured state powerlifting championships in recent years, claimed two medals in 2017, with a handful of others appearing on the radar screen.

Dublin junior Ethan Price was the first Big Country athlete to medal on Saturday, capturing bronze in the Division III 275-pound class with a total of 1,590 pounds, behind Franklin’s Blake Johnson (1,815) and Shelbyville’s Kawan McCowin (1,610).

Price was in contention to capture silver, but his 540-pound deadlift was 25 pounds behind that of McCowin’s effort, which was just enough to drop him to third place.

Price’s deadlift, however, was 10 pounds more than his personal best, so he left the Expo Center without complaint.

“I’m pretty happy,” Price said. “I was only expecting to finish fourth or fifth, so I’m pretty happy with it.

“Plus, I still have next year.”

Comanche’s Pedro Bernal, the Big Country’s other competitor in this class, took fifth at 1,560 pounds, climbing into the top five with solid 575-pound effort in the deadlift.

Also taking home some hardware was Stephenville’s Ragan Wood, who took bronze in the Division-II 220-pound class with a 1,515-pound total that included a 645-pound squat. His squat, which was the second-best in the division, kept him in medal contention all day.

Narrowly missing a bronze medal was Merkel’s Matt Holmes, who finished in a three-way tie for third place with Palacios’ Danny Rodriguez and Drew Roberts of Bosqueville in the Division III 198-pound division with 1,440 pounds. Holmes, however, was given fourth place due to a tiebreaker based on body weight, with Rodriguez being awarded bronze.

“Matt did a great job and he pretty much did all of this on his own,” Merkel powerlifting  coach Judd Cathey said. “He puts in a lot of extra work by himself without a lot from us coaches.

“He had a really good day today and I wouldn’t want to take any credit away from him at all.”

Also placing high was Big Spring’s Justin Ormsby, who took sixth in the Division II 132-pound class with a three-lift total of 1,070 pounds. This included a grand finale of 460 pounds in the deadlift — the third-best in his division.

Hawley’s Tristan Wegener, who after two lifts, was in the middle of the pack in the Division III 165-pound division, faded during the deadlift with a 375-pound effort and an 11th-place finish.

Abilene’s lone local qualifier, Devin Romero of Abilene High, was forced to scratch due to injury and was unable to compete in the Division I 198-pound class.

THSPA STATE MEET

DIVISION I

Team Standings — 1. Brownsville Lopez, 14; 2. Brownsville Hanna, 12; 3. Port Lavaca Calhoun, 11

114 — 1. Ricky Lopez, Frisco Centennial, 375-230-430—1,035; 2. Diego Gallegos, Alvin, 385-235-410—1,030; 3. Cody Juarez, Alice, 425-225-375—1,025.

123 — 1. Joel Sanchez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 465-220-475—1,160; 2. Matthew Longoria, Alvin, 405-305-400—1,110; 3. Nate Lunsford, Frisco Wakeland, 425-235-430—1,090.

132 — 1. Jose Alvarado, Brownsville Lopez, 545-295-465—1,305; 2. Ricky Cuellar, Brownsville Pace, 470-290-425—1,185; 3. Moc Moo, Port Lavaca Calhoun, 480-250-450—1,180.

148 — 1. Gavin Webster,  Conroe The Woodlands, 585-350-540—1,475; 2. Anthony Perez, Killeen Shoemaker,  570-325-520—1,415; 3. Jonathan Zelaya, Victoria East, 605-300-470—1,375.

165 — 1. Daniel Leita, Port Lavaca Calhoun, 650-330-600—1,580; 2. Gage Carreon, Port Neches-Groves, 585-325-610—1,520; 3. Jacob Gracia, Weslaco, 600-330-570—1,500.

181 — 1. Gabriel Cantu,   Corpus Christi Calallen, 570-330-630—1,530; 2. Omar Essix, Waco, 575-285-620—1,480; 3. Gio Martinez, Brownsville Porter, 550-340-585—1,475.

198 — 1. Roy Kelley, Conroe, 665-340-635—1,640; 2. Caleb Johnson, Lumberton, 585-390-570—1,545; 3. Jesse Luna, Brownsville Lopez, 610-315-575—1,500; SC–Devin Romero, Abilene.

220 — 1. Paul Sanchez,   Hutto, 675-350-635—1,660; 2. Ricky Arreola, Brownsville Hanna, 700-410-545—1,655; 3. George Villela, Gregory-Portland, 680-390-575—1,645.

242 — 1. Jose Hernandez, San Marcos, 715-375-595—1,685, 2. Adrian Arredondo, Brownsville Hanna, 695-415-550—1,660, 3. Brayden Mercer, Burleson, 630-430-590—1,650.

275 — 1. Jacob Rodriguez, CC Tuloso-Midway, 820-430-610—1,860; 2. Jason Suniga, Victoria West, 725-435-525—1,685; 3. Roman Ruiz, Lockhart, 640-420-610—1,670.

SHW — 1. Terry Carter, Livingston, 760-435-700—1,895; 2. Eli Olivo, Donna North, 765-535-560—1,860; 3. Josh Trevino, Brownsville Lopez, 765-420-605—1,790.

DIVISION II

TEAM STANDINGS — 1. Beeville Jones, 16; 2. San Antonio Holy Cross, 15; 3. Jasper, 11; 27. Stephenville, 2.

114 — 1. Justin Lindsey, Kennedale, 425-225-375—1025; 2. Danny Ruiz, Zapata, 400-165-390—955; 3. Nathan Mendiaz, Monahans, 345-240-315—900.

123 — 1. Jonathan Cardenas, Freeport Brazosport, 435-250-460—1,145; 2. Trey Arras, Texarkana Liberty-Eylau, 450-290-385—1,125; 3. Diego Rivera, Mexia, 410-245-405—1,060.

132 — 1. Andres Ramos, Ingleside, 520-250-470—1,240; 2. Ryan Thomas, Iowa Park, 455-275-480—1,210; 3. Mike Barajas,       Hidalgo Early College, 480-270-440—1,190; 6. Justin Ormsby, Big Spring, 380-230-460—1,070.

148 — 1. Isaiah Mesa, Taylor, 605-310-510—1,425; 2. Ismael Franco, Crystal City, 510-305-495—1,310; 3. Sean Williams, Lampasas, 480-300-490—1,270.

165 — 1. Jerkarion Simmons, 560-380-625—1,565; 2. Colton Boatright, Shepherd, 540-360-540—1,440; 3. Andres Hernandez, Hidalgo Early College, 520-315-515—1,350.

181 — 1. Robert Adame, San Antonio Holy Cross, 585-345-510—1440; 2. Kolbi Foster, Sweeny , 610-275-540—1,425; 3. Gaston Castellanos, Rio Hondo, 575-340-500—1,415.

198 — 1. Chris Madrigal, Beeville Jones, 600-375-545—1, 520; 2. Barry Hernandez, Corpus Christi West Oso, 615-360-515—1, 490; 3. Angel Rodriguez, Rio Hondo, 575-405-500—1, 480.

220 — 1.  Aaron Puga, Beeville Jones, 675-325-575—1,575; 2. Darrell Houff, Texarkana Liberty-Eylau, 600-435-525—1,560; 3. Ragan Wood, Stephenville, 645-370-500—1,515.

242 — 1. Jacob Gomez, Fairfield, 650-455-530—1635, 2. Eddie Moreno, Somerset, 630-405-595—1,630, 3. Jose Soliz, Orange Grove, 650-470-500—1,620.

275 — 1. Jerry Daniel, Nevada Community, 745-530-605—1,880; 2. Austin Soto, Devine, 625-500-575—1,700; 3. Austin Norton, Nevada Community, 700-350-550—1,600; DQ–Sean Humphrey, Snyder.

SHW — 1. Joseph Pena, San Antonio Holy Cross, 1025-515-605—2,145; 2. David Garcia, Alvarado, 705-565-565—1,835; 3. Travis Shouse, Anna, 730-465-585—1,780.

DIVISION III

TEAM STANDINGS — 1. Natalia, 16; 2. San Diego, 15; 3. Axtell, 10; 29. Dublin, 2; 46. Comanche, 2.

114 — 1. Angel Garcia, Edinburg Idea College Prep, 400-225-385—1,010; 2. Arnold Pena, Benavides, 325-190-365—880; 3. Austin Mullenix, Sadler S&S Consolidated, 355-185-330—870.

123 — 1. Manuel Padilla, Natalia, 425-185-405—1,015; 2. Richard Lowrie, Kemp, 410-220-380—1,010; 3. Mario Giron, Pilot Point, 400-225-380—1,005.

132 — 1. Anthony Perez, San Diego, 500-265-480—1,245; 2, Richard Saenz, Hebbronville, 510-280-440—1,230; 3. Luis Trejo, Friona, 460-260-425—1,145.

148 — 1. Raymon Aranda, Seagraves, 500-310-505—1,315; 2. Jacob Fanno, Jourdanton, 500-280-500—1,280; 3. Diego Perez, Rocksprings, 495-295-420—1,210.

165 — 1. Javier Rodriguez, San Diego, 565-360-485—1,410; 2, Danny Ho, Wichita Falls City View, 530-340-500—1,370; 3. Spencer Wright, Leonard, 530-335-485—1,350, 11. Tristan Wegener, Hawley, 490-300-375—1,165.

181 — 1. Michael Rodriguez, Axtell, 605-290-625—1,520; 2. Cameron Riess, Grapeland, 600-405-500—1,505; 3. Hunter Douzat, Little River Academy, 580-390-500—1,470.

198 — 1. Mitchell Rees, Karnes City, 685-310-550—1,545; 2. Jeff Williams, El Maton Tidehaven, 535-405-555—1,495; 3. Danny Rodriguez, Palacios, 625-295-520—1,440; 4. Matt Holmes, Merkel, 560-350-530—1,440.

220 — 1. Elijah Gooden, Boling, 700-410-615—1,725; 2. Karl Gibson II, Mathis, 625-375-600—1,600; 3. Mike Castillo, McGregor, 600-365-580—1,545.

242 — 1. Xavian Hampton, Hitchcock, 715-360-610—1,685; 2. Angel De Luna, Big Lake Reagan County, 725-405-535—1,665; 3. Erick Marton, Axtell, 660-360-610—1,630.

275 — 1. Blake Johnson,  Franklin 745-415-655—1,815; 2. Kawon McCowin, Shelbyville, 650-385-575—1,610; 3. Ethan Price, Dublin 600-450-540—1,590. 5. Pedro Bernal, Comanche, 625-360-575—1,560.

SHW — 1. Santiago Leija, Natalia, 715-405-590—1,710; 2. Collin Chesson, Saratoga West Hardin, 680-445-565—1,690; 3. Carlos Giron,        Pilot Point, 700-425-560—1,685. 12. Justin Trawick, Colorado City, 600-400-540—1,540.