Nixon-Smiley lifters flex muscles at meets

The Nixon-Smiley High School powerlifting teams are flexing their muscles and making others take notice as they placed high at a number of area meets recently.

Marvin Allen Invitational

The Mustang boys won the Marvin Allen Invitational meet in Somerset on Jan. 23, racking up an impressive 45 points, which included two firsts, four seconds, two thirds, two fourths and a fifth. They beat second-place Carrizo Springs (37) by eight points.

Cesar Vasquez won the 114 class with a total of 930 pounds combined, while Adolfo Vasquez won the 181 class with a total of 1,435 combined pounds.

Other male finishers included:
• Khali Jantes, second, 132 class, 1,060 pounds.

• Gavino Moreno, second, 220 class, 1,525 pounds.

• Noah Jenks, second, 275 class, 1,430 pounds.

• Domingo Gutierrez, second, 308 class, 1,340 pounds.

• Jayven Robles, third, 114 class, 800 pounds.

• Davian Ramos, third, 198 class, 1,220 pounds.

• Eric Rodriguez, fourth, 165, 1,315 pounds.

• Adan Zavala, fourth, 198, 1,200 pounds.

• Jaylun Rodriguez, fifth, 242, 1,265 pounds.

The Mustang girls finished third overall with 26 points, tied with Del Rio, who had one more first place than Nixon-Smiley did. The Mustangs collected a first, three seconds and four fifths. Ashly Garcia won the 165 class with a total of 830 pounds combined.

Other female finishers included:

• Kaylie Morin, second, 123 class, 700 pounds.

• Gaby Limon, second, 132 class, 745 pounds.

• Zulema Rodriguez, second, 148 class, 855 pounds.

• Ruby Mendez, fifth, 114 class, 620 pounds.

• Wendy Rodriguez, fifth, 165 class, 670 pounds.

• Kaelynn Mendiola, fifth, 181 class, 725 pounds.

• Jenna Bustos, fifth, 242 class, 595 pounds.

Stockdale Invitational

The Mustang boys then won the Stockdale Invitational meet on Feb. 6 with a combined 45 points to beat second-place San Antonio Memorial (41) by four points. Nixon-Smiley had four firsts, a second, three thirds, a fourth and a fifth.

Cesar Vasquez won the 114 class with a total of 955 combined pounds. Eduardo Betancourt won the 123 class with a combined 820 pounds. Eric Rodriguez won the 165 class with a total of 1,365 pounds and Noah Jenks won the 308 class with a total of 1,470 pounds.

Other male finishers included:

• Domingo Gutierrez, second, 308 class, 1,465 pounds.

• Cash Ramirez, third, 114 class, 640 pounds.

• Jaydin Munoz, third, 181 class, 1,140 pounds.

• Cash Davis, third, 308 class, 1,075 pounds.

• Adan Zavala, fourth, 198 class, 1,250 pounds.

• Garet Gonzales, fifth, 198 class, 1,145 pounds.

The Mustang girls finished in second place with a total of 38 combined points, easily outdistancing third place Kenedy which had 25. Nixon-Smiley had three firsts, a second, two thirds, two fourths and two fifths.

Olivia Jackson won the 97 class with a total of 480 combined pounds, while Zulema Rodriguez won the 148 class with a total of 910 pounds and Frida Casas won the 165 class with a total of 790 pounds.

Other female finishers included:

• Kaelynn Mendiola, second, 181 class, 765 pounds.

• Kendall Hemler, third, 97 class, 360 pounds.

• Jenna Bustos, third, 242 class, 630 pounds.

• Raelyn Mcghee, fourth, 132 class, 600 pounds.

• Stephanie Avila, fourth, 148 class, 655 pounds.

• Bridgette Caldera, fifth, 105 class, 370 pounds.

• Kendra Savoie, fifth, 132 class, 570 pounds.

Clash With The Titans

The Mustang boys had just one lifter place at the Clash with the Titans Meet as Jaydin Munoz finished third in the 181 class with a total of 1,160 pounds.

However, the Mustang girls finished fourth with a total of 18 points, tied with Hallettsville, but Nixon-Smiley had a second place that Hallettsville didn’t have. Nixon-Smiley had one first, one second, one third, one fourth and one fifth. Gracie Gomez won the 105 class with a total of 625 pounds.

Other female finishers included:
• Ashly Garcia, second, 165 class, 870 pounds.

• Kaylie Morin, third, 123 class, 735 pounds.

• Ruby Mendez, fourth, 114 class, 640 pounds.

• Frida Casas, fifth, 165 class, 790 pounds.

Sixteen Lady Mustangs have qualified for the THSWPA Region 5 Championship Meet and will travel to Edinburg on Feb. 26 to compete for a chance at the state meet. They include Olivia Jackson, Kendall Hemler, Gracie Gomez, Ruby Mendez, Kaylie Morin, Gaby Limon, Raelyn Mcghee, Mariela Limon, Kendra Savoie, Zulema Rodriguez, Stephanie Avila, Ashly Garcia, Frida Casas, Wendy Rodriguez, Kaelynn Mendiola, and Jenna Bustos.