The Lindale powerlifting team competed at the THSPA state meet on March 22 in Edinburg, Texas. Lindale won two weight class state championships and 4 other placements. 

“It’s just a cool experience for me as a coach to share with them, because it really has nothing to do with me,” girls powerlifting coach Jacob Alford said. “It has to do with their work ethic and the way that they showed up every day and kind of got after it and competed so really proud of them and thankful to have had the opportunity to coach.”

The powerlifting team had 24 medalists at the regional meet between the girls and boys teams and had 11 state qualifiers.

“It’s a pretty, pretty cool feeling to have so many qualifications,” Alford said. “They’ve worked really hard over the past year.” 

The women’s powerlifting team was regional champions and placed third place overall at state.

“It’s just a cool experience for me as a coach to share with them, because it really has nothing to do with me,” Alford said. “It has to do with their work ethic and the way that they showed up every day and kind of got after it and competed so really proud of them and thankful to have had the opportunity to coach.”

The women’s team is coached by Lindale alumni Jacob Alford, who has coached for 11 years. He also teaches freshman world geography. 

“I graduated from here in 2010 so getting to come back here and getting to be a part of this athletic program has been kind of a dream come true for me,” Alford said. “I really enjoyed it, and it’s been exciting to see the success of the athletes that have come through here.”

The boy’s powerlifting team were also regional champions and placed 6th overall at state.

“These athletes have improved every year since they have been here,” coach Ronnie Nicks said. “It’s a testament to how hard they work, and I just enjoyed the fact that they put in the work and it has shown at the state meet.”

The boys team is coached by Nicks, who has coached all four years he has been at Lindale. He also teaches special education in all grade levels. 

“The kids at Lindale are great,” Nicks said. “All the athletes that I come into contact with are real good and great students who show great discipline and have good ethics.”

“I am beyond thankful for everything Coach Shaw, Nicks, and Alford have invested in me,” senior Gunner Johnson said. “Going as far as even wrapping my knees before squatting or spotting me on the bench, they have put so much effort into my success and I am beyond grateful for it.”

Senior Addison Frazier won the girls state champion in the 132 weight class. She benched 250 lbs, squatted 400 lbs, and deadlifted 350 lbs for a total 1,000 lbs. 

“Obviously, it feels amazing. I wasn’t super happy with my performance at the state meet,” Fraiser said. “But besides that, I felt very proud of myself, but also I felt a little bit upset that I left anything on the table, because that was my last chance to really give everything that I had.”

Frazier placed ninth state her sophomore year and third her junior, and she is the regional champion in the 132 weight class this year. Her personal records are 400 lbs for squat, 285 lbs for bench, and 365 lbs for deadlift.

“My drive to win just got so much bigger after getting third junior year and that just motivated me more to work harder,” Frazier said. “And I was very disappointed that I didn’t get my deadlift, because if I got my deadlift, I would have broken the deadlift record as well.”

Senior Regan Wooten won the girls state championship for the 181 weight class. She benched 275 lbs, squatted 385 lbs, and deadlifted 360 lbs for a total of 1,020 lbs. 

“I’m actually very happy to get a state championship because I came a long way from being 11th at state last year, to being a state champion,” Wooten said. “So I’m very proud of myself and I’m very proud of my team as well.”

Wooten is a two time regional champion and has won first place at all invitational meets she attended throughout the season. Her personal records are 400 lbs for squat, 285 lbs for bench press, and 365 lbs for deadlift. 

“I’m really glad I’m on the Lindale team because I got to meet, like a lot of people, and I don’t think I would have had as much success on any other team,” Wooten said. “I always try and do a little extra than what we’re expected to do. If we have certain practices I try to stay longer and help other people, or I’ll just go and do some extra lifts by myself.”

Senior Sam Vasquez placed third in the 114 weight class. He squatted 365 lbs, benched 245 lbs, and deadlifted 360 lbs for a total of 970 lbs. 

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to go to state, and I did not expect to place third, especially knowing my competition,” Vasquez said. “The meet was amazing, and I loved sharing the platform with so many strong lifters.” 

Junior Gabriel Crisp placed fourth in the 123 weight class. He squatted 395 lbs, benched 250 lbs, and deadlifted 405 lbs for a total of 1,050 lbs. 

“I was excited all year to get to state,” Crips said. “ I’ve worked as hard as I could as much as possible.”

Senior Gunner Johnson placed fourth in the 220 weight class. He squatted 660 lbs, benched 470 lbs, and deadlifted 535 lbs for a total of 1,665 lbs. 

“I felt very accomplished to have gotten a state medal,” Johnson said. “I had wanted to get a medal at state since I began powerlifting and receiving one felt like everything I had dedicated to it ended up paying off.”

Senior Drew Ragland placed fourth in the 242 weight class. He squatted 645 lbs, benched 525 lbs, and deadlifted 500 lbs for a total of 1,670 lbs. 

“I am very proud that I was able to place at state this year because at the beginning of the year I didn’t think I was even going to be able to lift at all,” Ragland said. “A lot of work went into getting to the state meet this year since I broke my back just a couple of months earlier .On top of weeks of rehab, I had to fight to get back to strength to be able to compete well.”

The powerlifting meet was organized by the Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA). The organization’s main mission is to create a drug free environment for student athletes to compete in, specifically in powerlifting but other events as well. 

“I think that THSPA is a very professional organization, and they’ve been around for a while now,” Nicks said. “They are just going to keep improving each meet for the state meet and I just feel like they are a great organization.”

THSPA organizes the powerlifting competitions into several different weight classes, from 114- lbs to 308+ lbs for men and 97+ lbs to 198+ lbs for women. When students qualify they must maintain their weight for competition days. 

“Some girls say ‘I’m not the strongest girl’, but you might be the strongest girl in your weight class, even though you’re not the strongest girl at the meet,” Alford said. “And so it kind of works out where you compete against people who are your size and have a similar build to you most of the time. And so I always like to really explain that specifically to the girls because anybody can be good at powerlifting if you have a good work ethic, and you’re willing to show up every day and put in the work.”