The Mount Pleasant High School Powerlifters opened their season on Thursday, January 16 in Lindale. The Tigers closed out the night with a 2nd place finish as a team with the Lady Tigers placing 3rd. Multiple lifters placed in the top 5 within their respective weight classes, earning points for their teams and medals as individuals.

The 2025 Tigers return some familiar faces with seniors Luis Alvarado, 2024 State qualifier Jose Gonzalez, 2024 Regional qualifier Juymil Lewis, and Seth Robertson, and juniors Bruno DeLeon and Bryson Taylor. New faces for the Tigers include juniors Alex Perez and Humberto Damian.

The 2025 Lady Tigers also have a host of returners, led by six 2024 Regional qualifiers including seniors Karen Hernandez, Xitlaly Sanchez, and Jasmine Landaverde, juniors Valerie Colocho and Valerie Cassio, and sophomores Monserrat Gonzalez and Diana Ramirez. New faces for the Lady Tigers include senior Sidney Harbour, juniors Cambria Malone, Alaya Organista, and Helen Salazar, sophomores Linnet Cuellar and Karen Sandate, and freshman Abiela Baltazar.

Lady Tiger 1st place medalists in their respective weight classes include Karen Hernandez and Jasmine Landaverde. Taking home 2nd place medals in their respective weight classes were Valerie Colocho and Monserrat Gonzalez. Placing 3rd for the Lady Tigers were Diana Ramirez and Xitlaly Sanchez in their weight classes. And rounding out the medals for the Lady Tigers were Valerie Cassio and Helen Salazar in 4th place in their respective weight classes.

For the Tigers, Jose Gonzalez placed 1st and earned Best Heavyweight Lifter at the meet. Also placing 1st in their weight classes were Luis Alvarado and Juymil Lewis. Bruno De Leon and Bryson Taylor both placed 2nd in their respective weight classes. Alex Perez earned a 3rd place medal. And Humberto Damian and Seth Robertson placed 5th in their weight classes to round out the medals for the Tigers.

The JV and Varsity teams will be back in action on Friday, January 24 at their home meet at Mount Pleasant Junior High. MPHS Powerlifting is coached by Don Woods and Blake Lodes.

Photos by MPHS junior, Anthony Gonzalez:

Boys powerlifting: The Tiger Powerlifting team placed 2nd in Lindale.

Girls powerlifting: The Lady Tiger Powerlifting team placed 3rd in Lindale.