The Prosper Lady Eagles powerlifting team competed at Prosper High School in the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association Region 6 Championship Feb. 26, earning six medals and a fifth-place team finish.
Seniors Daniella Espinosa and Ayden Holman each qualified for the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state meet to lead Prosper’s performance.
Espinosa placed second in the 123-pound weight class with a 790-pound total, lifting 320 pounds in the squat, 185 in the bench press and 285 in the deadlift. Holman finished third in the 105-pound division with a 640-pound total, including lifts of 255 in the squat, 170 in the bench press and 215 in the deadlift.
“Out of my three lifts, I’m definitely most proud of my 320 squat,” Espinosa said. “The prep it took to get there was just weeks of strength training on end, even when it was tiring or hard. My goal now is a 335 squat, and I’m just hoping to execute that at state.”
Junior Delanie Bowman took fourth in the 97-pound class with a 440-pound total. In the 105-pound division, senior Sophia Cruz placed fourth with a 595-pound total, while Isabella Lopez finished fifth with the same total. Junior Alyssa Gallaway recorded a 545-pound total in the division.
“I’m most proud of breaking 200 on bench press at the regional meet,” senior Emilie Goddard said. “Last year I had a rough season and used it as a learning opportunity for my future seasons. I did end up making regionals again and placing sixth overall.”
Goddard totaled 705 pounds in the 132-pound class. In the 148-pound division, juniors Piper Rogers and Sophia Buenteo each posted 740-pound totals, and Kyle Rogers finished with 725 pounds.
Senior Nishita Jayagobi set a school record in the 198-pound class with a 790-pound total, lifting 335 in the squat, 220 in the bench press and 235 in the deadlift.
“My biggest accomplishment in my success this season would be getting through the funks I’ve been falling into, whether it’s in my deadlifts or not completing the weight I’ve been wanting to,” Espinosa said. “I’ve been working towards not getting in my head so much and not letting heavy weight stop me from my goals.”
Espinosa and Holman will compete at the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state meet later this season.
“My goal for the season was to honestly compete with myself from last year and to get a higher placement at state,” Espinosa said. “I really just wanted to see how much I could improve on my own records.”
This article was edited by Kate Duncan, Emily Logan and Trisha Panicker.
