Juniors Jamisha Fields, Madi Isaacs, and Tylie Bruce and freshman Breyunna Dowell qualified for state at the regional powerlifting meet last Saturday. They will lift at the state meet at the Extraco Events Center in Waco March 15 beginning at 8 a.m. The boys’ regional powerlifting qualifiers will lift Saturday in Malakoff to qualify for the state meet.

“I know God is going to allow me to perform to the best of my ability,” Bruce said. “That really gives me my will when things look tough.”

Fields and Isaacs placed first and Bruce and Dowell placed second in their respective weight classes.

“I’m really just trying to stay focused on my goals and how I want to perform at state,” Bruce said. “It’s me versus the weight.”

Also lifting on Saturday were senior Paige Allen who placed sixth, freshman Rileigh White who placed tenth, senior Ashlyn Garcia who placed 12th, sophomore Abby Coleman who placed fifth, freshman Makensy Isaacs who placed third, senior Edith Cockerell who placed fourth, junior Daeja Harris who placed fifth, sophomore Harley Gomez who placed 12th, senior Annie Wilson who placed 11th, junior Bailey Jones who placed fifth, junior Brianna Gray who placed sixth, and junior Charity Starr who placed sixth. The girls’ team placed second overall.

“I motivated myself [this year] by reminding myself how far I’ve come and how hard I’ve worked to get there,” Garcia said. “I also reminded myself that there is no endpoint, there are always ways to become better.”

Boys’ regional qualifiers include senior Jashaughn Hatcher, junior Zane Anderson, junior Jar-Mychael Hudson, junior Chandler Noble, sophomore Jacob Espinoza, freshman Alonzo Moffitt, and senior Justin Cooper.