Borjon sets bench press record, finishes third in state for powerlifting

Gonzales senior Omar Borjon — known to Apache fans as the “Big O” — had a big day at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association Division 2 State Meet on Friday, March 21.

Borjon set a new state record and personal best in the bench press for the 308-pound class with an impressive 600-pound lift en route to a bronze medal and third place finish. Borjon was actually in first place in his weight class after his bench press, but was surpassed in the deadlift by gold medalist Carson Phelps of Orange Little Cypress-Mauriceville and silver medalist Cristobal Ortega of La Feria.

Borjon also squatted 730 pounds and deadlifted 530 pounds for a total of 1,860 pounds lifted. He actually tied Ortega for total pounds lifted, but Ortega got the silver medal due to weighing two pounds less than Borjon, even though Borjon finished better in two of the three lift categories.
The Apache senior had previously lifted his personal best two weeks earlier when he set a regional record in the bench press, smashing the old record of 510 with a lift of 575 pounds. Borjon finished the regional meet as the silver medalist and runner-up.