Seventeen individual MPHS Powerlifters qualified and competed in Regional Powerlifting, the Lady Tigers at Pine Tree on February 29 and the Tigers at Tyler Chapel Hill on March 6. Five lifters have qualified for their respective state meets.

Senior Araceli Landaverde placed 1st in her weight class. This will be her second trip to State.

Senior McKinsee Oviedo placed 2nd in her weight class at Regionals and will be making her second trip to the state meet.

Junior Dori Macedo qualified for state as the top 5A lifter in her weight class. This will be her first trip to the state meet.

Junior Jose Gonzalez placed 1st in his weight class. This will be his first trip to state.

Junior Devon Burtness met the qualifying total of 1450 lbs. for his weight class to qualify for state. This will be his first trip to the state meet.

Five other Lady Tigers placed in the top 10 in their weight classes including junior Jasmine Landaverde in 5th place, senior Saniya Milton in 5th place, improving one place from 2023, sophomore Valerie Colocho in 6th, junior Xitlaly Sanchez in 8th, improving one place from 2023, and sophomore Valerie Cassio in 9th place.

And for the Tigers, senior Nathanial Cates medaled in 4th place in his weight class.

The Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association State meet is March 12-16 at the Comerica Center in Frisco. The Texas High School Powerlifting Association State meet is March 21-23 at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene. Lady Tiger Powerlifting is coached by Woods and Tiger Powerlifting is coached by Blake Lodes.

Photos L to R –

Tiger state qualifiers (L to R) Jose Gonzalez, Coach Blake Lodes, Devon Burtness

Lady Tiger state qualifiers (L to R) Dori Macedo, Araveli Landaverde, McKinsee Oviedo, Coach Don Woods