For the first time in MPHS history, an MPHS Lady Tiger stood above the rest and brought home a Gold Medal from the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting State Championships!

After a devastating state meet in 2021, Nayeli Jaimes won the the 5A (small school) 181 class on Saturday in Corpus Christi, Tx.

Jaimes not only won the championship in her weight class, but she also set personal records in all three of her lifts. In the squat, Jaimes surpassed her previous total of 375 lbs by lifting a new PR of 395 lbs. In the bench press, she also bested her previous total of 225 lbs by setting a new PR of 235 lbs. Finally in the dead lift, Jaimes set a new PR of 355 lbs, passing her previous total of 340 lbs. Her total weight lifted was a staggering 985 lbs, a massive improvement from last year of 145 lbs!

Jaimes came into the day ranked #1 in the Region and also #1 in the State. When asked what her goal was for the day, she said, “I came in ranked #1, my goal is to leave ranked #1! Isn’t that what you want Coach?” My reply was, “Nayeli, I would be happy if you finished in the top 5, but if you want to put that pressure on yourself, go ahead. I will do whatever you need in order to give you a chance to stay #1!”

After squats, Jaimes was sitting in 3rd place, just 10 lbs. out of 1st. Knowing we didn’t need to push her beyond her limits in squat because she was the dominate lifter in the bench press, Jaimes was calm and collected. Once the bench was over, Jaimes found herself in 1st place by 30 lbs over 2nd place, 45 lbs over 3rd and 50 lbs over 4th.

Finally, the dead lift would seal the victory for Jaimes who put herself up by 35 lbs on her final attempt, leaving the 2nd place finisher with an attempt of 405 lbs to try and steal the gold away. Today would not be the day for anyone to take what Jaimes had been working for all year, the chance to finish what she started 3 seasons ago.

Back in 2020, Nayeli Jaimes was a freshman who decided she would powerlift and she would compete in the 165 class. At the Regional meet in 2020, Jaimes finished tied for 2nd place with a total of 825 lbs, an automatic qualifying total for State. Unfortunately, the State meet was cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID scare. In 2021, Jaimes would not be able to finish at the state meet as she failed to complete an attempt on squat. However, 2022 would be the year she set all things right!

A three time State competitor, Jaimes looks to next year working to go back-to-back and repeat as the 181 State Champ!

Jaimes was not the only Lady Tiger to compete in the State Championships this year. Two other Lady Tigers made the trip to Corpus Christi also.

In the 114 class, Senior Arlette DeJesus did an outstanding job in her two years of powerlifting. In 2021, DeJesus claimed the 3rd place Bronze at the Regional competition with a 545 lb total, and in 2022, she captured the 2nd place Silver to move on to the State meet. With new PR’s in the bench press of 115 lbs, and dead lift of 255 lbs, DeJesus would hit a new PR total of 570 lbs, good enough to give her a 9th place finish overall!

In the 132 class, Junior Alexandra Martinez also pushed herself to new limits in her third year of lifting. In 2020, Martinez would finish the Regional meet in 8th place with a total of 495 lbs, while in 2021, she would finish the Regional meet in 5th place with a 645 lb total! In 2022 however, she would reach PR’s in all three lifts and finish 2nd in the Region. In doing so, she would again set new PR’s at the State meet, totaling 765 lbs, and finish in 9th place overall!

With their efforts, the Lady Tigers would finish the day in 9th place as a team, out of 50 teams!

2022 has been a tremendous year for the Lady Tigers:

10 Regional Qualifiers

6 Regional Medalists

4 top 3 Regional Finalists

3 State Qualifiers

2 top 10 State Finalists, and….

1 STATE CHAMPION!!!

Congratulations Lady Tigers on a tremendous season! Looking forward to seeing what you do next year!

#MPTigerPowerlifting

 

Write up by Coach Don Woods