Crowned Champs: Five RGV girls win state titles at THSWPA Championships

EDINBURG — Day 1 of the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association (THSWPA) State Championships featured five Rio Grande Valley girls winning gold in their respective weight classes Wednesday at Bert Ogden Arena.

Three of the five state championships were won decidedly, while the other two were won in dramatic fashion on the final lift of the day.

San Benito’s Leandra Machuca dominated her competition to capture gold in the 132-pound weight class with a 1,060-pound total, 135 heavier than the next-closest lifter.

The senior set two records with a 450-pound squat and her 1,060 total. She was also named top overall lifter on the light platform.

San Benito’s Leandra Machuca competes in THSWPA Class 6A State Championships at Bert Ogden Arena on Wednesday, March. 12, 2025, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

“I’m just very excited, because I came up short last year and this year I just brought it,” Machuca said.

Edinburg High’s Lynette Herrera closed her career with the Class 6A crown in the 181-pound weight class after posting a 1,125-pound total, 45 pounds higher than the second place finisher.

Herrera finished second at last year’s state meet to make this year’s gold much sweeter, and she got to do it in front of her home crowd.

“It feels amazing. I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” Herrera said. “I’ve had a long journey, a lot of bumps in the road, but I’m so glad I finally accomplished my goal.”

Edinburg High’s Lynette Herrera competes in THSWPA Class 6A State Championships at Bert Ogden Arena on Wednesday, March. 12, 2025, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

Los Fresnos’ Areanna Marin ran away with first place in the 165-pound weight class with a 1,100-pound total to earn the Falcons’ lone gold medal. She set a a state record with a 315-pound bench press.

Marin said she was proud to represent Los Fresnos’ girls powerlifting program, which has been among the state’s best over the past decade.

“I really love this team. They’re like sisters to me,” Marin said. “It feels really good. I’ve worked really hard for this these past two years and it wouldn’t have been possible without training and the support from my brothers and my parents.”

Los Fresnos’ Areanna Marin competes in THSWPA Class 6A State Championships at Bert Ogden Arena on Wednesday, March. 12, 2025, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected])

Harlingen High’s Ava Morrow and Weslaco High’s Rheanna Rodriguez saved their best for last to win their respective state titles Wednesday.

The sophomore Morrow qualified for state as a freshman last year and posted a 10th-place finish. This year, her 350-pound deadlift on her last attempt catapulted her total to 895 pounds, tied for first in the 123-pound weight class.

When two powerlifters finish tied in total weight, the tiebreaker is awarded to the lifter with the lighter body weight.

Morrow weighed in at 120.2 pounds, while The Woodlands’ Bethany Prior weighed in at 120.5 pounds.

“My last lift, I was so stressed out because everyone’s telling me things like, ‘You can win, you can win,’ and I’m like, ‘No, stop, I don’t want to hear you,’” Morrow said with a laugh. “I just had to get it. I said a prayer and I gave it all to the Lord and I thank him that I was able to get it.”

Harlingen High’s Ava Morrow (center) won the THSWPA 6A State Championship in the 123-pound weight class.

Weslaco’s Rodriguez was in third place entering her final deadlift of the day, and with nothing to lose, the Panthers powerlifter went for it all.

She trailed first and second place by 55 total pounds and all three of them attempted 390 pounds for their final deadlift.

Rodriguez was the only one of the three to successfully complete the 390-pound deadlift, which put her in a three-way tie for first with 1,070 total pounds.

Rodriguez weighed in .4 pounds less than San Benito’s Alyssa Nino to secure her state championship.

“I shocked myself. Sometimes you just suprise yourself and you’re stronger than you know,” Rodriguez said. “It means a lot. I feel like I owed it to my family and all my teammates over the previous years. It’s just something I worked really hard for so I’m really happy it paid off.”

Weslaco High’s Rheanna Rodriguez (center) won the THSWPA Class 6A State Championship in the 148-pound weight class.

The THSWPA State Championships continue Thursday with Class 3A small schools at 8 a.m., Class 3A big schools at 1:30 p.m., and Unequipped Division at 6:30 p.m.

Day 3 on Friday features Class 4A small at 8 a.m. and Class 4A big at 1:30 p.m.

The THSWPA State Championships conclude Saturday with Class 5A small at 8 a.m. and Class 5A big at 1:30 p.m.

A list of top-five finishers at this year’s THSWPA Class 6A and Class 1A/2A State Championships can be found below.

THSWPA CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

97-Pound Weight Class: 2nd Place – Victoria Rodriguez, Los Fresnos (750 Total); 3rd Place – Jade Guzman, Edinburg High (690 Total); 4th Place – Yarithza Barron, Weslaco High (675 Total); 5th Place – Sarah Rodriguez, Brownsville Veterans (670 Total).

105-Pound Weight Class: 4th Place – Alyssa Baker, San Benito (710 Total).

114-Pound Weight Class: 3rd Place – Valentina Quinones, Edinburg North (815 Total); 5th Place – Hailey Galarza, San Benito (795 Total).

123-Pound Weight Class: 1st Place – Ava Morrow, Harlingen High (895 Total); 3rd Place – Aubrey Cantu, Harlingen High (870 Total); 4th Place – Daniella Garcia, Brownsville Veterans (870 Total).

132-Pound Weight Class: 1st Place – Leandra Machuca, San Benito (1,060 Total); 4th Place – Hailey McClanahan, Brownsville Veterans (865 Total).

148-Pound Weight Class: 1st Place – Rheanna Rodriguez, Weslaco High (1,070 Total); 2nd Place – Alyssa Nino, San Benito (1,070 Total).

165-Pound Weight Class: 1st Place – Areanna Marin, Los Fresnos (1,100 Total); 3rd Place – Summer Ayala, Edinburg North (955 Total); 4th Place – Valeria Alvarez, Los Fresnos (955 Total).

181-Pound Weight Class: 1st Place – Lynette Herrera, Edinburg HIgh (1,125 Total). 

198-Pound Weight Class: 2nd Place – Jimena Lopez, Edinburg North (1,035 Total); 5th Place – Daniella Izaguirre, Edinburg High (975 Total).

242-Pound Weight Class: 2nd Place – Ariana Memik, Harlingen High (1,075 Total); 4th Place – Jasmine Garcia, Edinburg High (955 Total).

242-Plus Weight Class: 2nd Place – Laurabella Sanchez, San Benito (1,170 Total); 4th Place Nadi Ruiz, Edinburg High (1,155 Total).

THSWPA CLASS 1A/2A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

105-Pound Weight Class: 2nd Place – Kaycei Salazar, La Villa (740 Total); 4th Place – Priscilla Almazan, Santa Maria (695 Total).

148-Pound Weight Class: 5th Place – Daniela Martinez, Santa Maria (850 Total).

181-Pound Weight Class: 3rd Place – Jasmin Elissetche, La Villa (950 Total).

The post Crowned Champs: Five RGV girls win state titles at THSWPA Championships appeared first on MyRGV.com.