1ST PLACE STATE CHAMPS.- Raymondville High School Powerlifting Team won first place in State last Saturday March 27th.. Shown kneeling is Justin Duran (Junior), standing left to right are Greg Juarez (Sophmore), Joe Trevino (Senior) and Coach G. Villarreal. Not pictured Assistant Coach Segundo Garza. Individually Duran in the 198 division won The State Championship and broke the state record of 670 with a 675 lb. squat. Juarez got 10th place in the 220 division. Trevino also won state champ in the 275 division and also broke the 760 state record with an 800 lb. squat. Raymondville High School’s varsity boys powerlifting squad won the Division II team title, and two individual crowns, at the Texas High School Powerlifting Association state meet held in Abilene this past Saturday.

Power-lifters are given three attempts to hoist as much weight as possible in the bench press, squat and dead-lift maneuvers. The highest total successfully lifted at each station is totaled and competitors are then ranked accordingly.

Winning the 275 lb. division for the second year in a row was Senior Joe Trevino who broke a state record by squatting 800 pounds. He also benched 375 and dead-lifted 575 for an overall sum of 1,750. Trevino also smashed numerous records at the region meet two weeks ago where he squatted 835, bench pressed 425 and dead-lifted 575 for a total of 1,835.

Junior Justin Duran won the individual title in the 198 lb. division and broke a pair of state records in the process. Duran hoisted 675 in the squat, 385 in the bench press and 565 in the dead-lift for a final tally of 1,625. The junior also rewrote various records at the region meet where he squatted 675, benched 375 and dead-lifted 565 for a total of 1,615.

Placing tenth at state was Sophomore Gregory Juarez who successfully raised 605 in the squat, 345 in the bench press and 440 in the dead-lift for a final sum of 1,390. Juarez qualified for state by finishing second at region where he squatted 595, benched 325 and dead-lifted 495 for a total of 1,415.

Head Coach Gerardo Villareal - who was assisted by Segundo Garza this season - applauded his team which went toe to toe with their competition in Abilene.

“The competition was pretty tight, we had a team score of 14 and ended up tied for first with another school but our two individual winners broke that tie,” Villareal said. “Trevino and Duran breaking those state records, which is not easy to do, really helped and now we have some of our guys in the state record books. All of our lifters at state did a great job which we of course expected because they have been training all year long and you can’t ask for anything else.”

Competing at the highest tier will be a huge plus for Raymondville’s sophomore finalist.

“Juarez got to experience what the big show is really like, there are lots of strong competitors up there,” Villareal said. “It opened up his eyes as far as what he needs to improve on for next year. Winning the team title has also got the attention of some of our younger guys in reminding them that we have a very good program, which I think is only going to get better.”

The Bearkats have consistently proven themselves by simply rolling up their sleeves.

“Our guys are very proud of what they have accomplished because of all the hard work and dedication they put into it,” Villareal said. “They know whatever they put into something is exactly what they will end up getting out of it. I have several juniors and sophomores coming up and I am even hearing about several junior high kids already talking about state in the future so hopefully they will help us out.”

Plain and simply put, Raymondville has reaped what they have sown.

“With the weight room we have, there are no excuses for not having success,” Villareal said. “In athletics, hard work pays off and boys these days see their results –either positive or negative - whether they put in their work or not. When they compete on Saturdays they can see what it is they need to improve on and determine if they are truly putting in the hard work. Power-lifting also teaches them discipline in regards to proper diet, getting enough rest and when they add that to hard work in the weight room they see how it is beneficial.”