Number of area athletes qualify for State Powerlifting

A bunch of powerlifters from the area have qualified for the state powerlifting tournament, which will be held March 24 and 25 at the at the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene. Area schools that will represent at the state tournament are Brazos, Columbus and Flatonia. Five girls qualifying from Brazos are Marlena Nunn (1st in regionals) 259+ weight class - squat-430, bench press-215; and dead lift-340 - totaling 985; Sara Rincon-Morales (1st in region - als) 123 weight class - squat-265, bench press-130, and dead lift-240-totaling 635; Tiona Steward (1st in regionals) in the 220 weight class - squat-380; bench press-170, and dead lift-370-totaling 920; Jessica Ramos (2nd in regionals) in the 165 weight class - squat-270, bench press-145, and dead lift-305-totaling 720; and Lily Ber - trand (2nd in regionals) in the 105 weight class - squat-215, bench press-110, and dead lift-215-total - ing 540. Qualifying in boys include Ka - sey Zientek from Brazos in the 220 weight class - squat-650, bench press-365, and dead lift-600- totaling 1,615. Qualifying from Co - lumbus is Jesse Reip in the 165 weight class - squat, 515; bench press, 335; and dead lift, 485; to - taling 1,335; and Flatonia qualifiers are Tadan Alvarado (1st in regionals and last year's state champion) in the SHW weight class - squat-745, bench press-370, and dead lift-315-totaling 1,430; Davon Walles (2nd in regionals) in the 308 weight class - squat-550, bench press-335, and dead lift-500-totaling 1,385; and Gentry Doyle (2nd in regionals) in the 132 weight class - squat-355, bench press-215, and dead lift-330-totaling 900; and for Flatonia girls side is Aaliyah Mendez. Men - dez finished second at the regional tournament in Robstown in the 114 weight class - squat-260, bench press-170, and dead lift-260-totaling 690.