Apaches take on regional powerlifting meet

BISHOP — Four Gonzales Apaches took on the regional powerlifting meet at Bishop last Saturday, March 10, with hopes of a state bid as one Apache took third in his weight class, another took eighth and two more bombed out.

Juan Licea competed in the 275-pound weight class, placing third in his division with a squat of 600 pounds, bench press of 335 pounds and a dead lift of 535 pounds to total to 1,470 pounds. Nick Ramirez was also in the same weight class, unfortunately bombing out.

Licea was bested by Geronimo Navarro’s Dylan Hatfield who totaled 1,550 pounds to win the meet. Rio Hondo’s Troy Macias took second with a total of 1,505 pounds. Both were deemed state qualifiers with Licea missing the cut.

JT Esparza took on the 220-pound weight class, getting lifts 500 pounds in the squat, 325-pound bench press and 500-ound dead lift to total to 1,325 pounds, good for eighth place. Leading the way was Zapata’s Franco Arce with 1,575 total pounds. Right behind were Rio Hondo’s Justin Flores at 1,545 pounds and Kingsville King’s Gilbert Arriaga at 1,505.

Vicente Reyna bombed out in the 242-pound weight class. Somerset’s Eddie Moreno topped the competition by 230 pounds, lifting a total of 1,710 pounds in the weight class. The total is also the most in the entire meet throughout all weight classes. In comparison, super heavyweight Oscar Castillo of Pleasanton, who is listed as outweighing Moreno by 56 pounds, had a total of 1,675 pounds. Kingsville King’s Ismael Gonzalez took second in the 242-pound weight class with a total of 1,480 pounds.