Edcouch-Elsa powerlifter Cabrera to compete at nationals in Nevada

Bryan Ramos | Staff Writer

EDCOUCH — Edcouch-Elsa junior Xiomara Cabrera might be new to powerlifting, but it hasn’t taken her long to make some noise in the sport.

“When I first got there and I saw girls lifting weights, I thought there’s now way I could do that. Now here I am, squatting 300 pounds — it’s crazy,” she said. “It’s an adrenaline rush. I like it.”

After a successful first year that included qualifying for the 2025 Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state meet and being part of Edcouch-Elsa’s state championship-winning team, Cabrera is now set to hit the national stage.

She will compete at the Powerlifting America Classic Nationals on Thursday at The Reno Ballroom in Reno, Nevada, against some of the top girls powerlifters across the country.

Cabrera qualified for the Powerlifting America Classic Nationals by posting a second-place finish at the Powerlifting America South Texas Showdown on April 19 in McAllen.

Edcouch-Elsa junior Xiomara Cabrera attempts a deadlift during a powerlifting meet. Courtesy Photo.

If she performs well and qualifies at nationals Thursday, she will represent Team USA in the International Powerlifting Federation World Games 2025 in August in Costa Rica.

“I feel like when I get there I’m going to get tunnel vision,” she said. “When I get tunnel vision, I don’t worry about anything. I’m just excited to be able to compete. The adrenaline is going to hit when I get there and I feel like it’s going to end well.”

Cabrera has played softball for three years at Edcouch-Elsa, but entering her junior year, she thought she’d try something new.

Edcouch-Elsa’s girls powerlifting coaches encouraged her to give powerlifting a try, and she picked up things quickly. Not only did she add another sport to her resumè, she also became one of the Yellow Jackets’ mascots.

Cabrera said she didn’t tell her friends she was the mascot at first, but once they noticed her missing at pep rallies, they put two and two together.

“The word started spreading and they caught on,” she said. “I never thought I’d be a mascot for school, but it’s fun because you’re close to the action. I just like to share my spirit. It’s fun.”

In the weight room, however, it’s all business.

Powerlifting includes three different lifts — squat, bench press and deadlift. Squat is Cabrera’s best.

Edcouch-Elsa junior Xiomara Cabrera attempts a squat during a powerlifting meet. Courtesy Photo.

She qualified for regionals this year in the 220-pound weight class and earned a second-place finish, which also punched her ticket to the THSWPA state meet March 15 at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg.

She was predicted to finish 12th out of 12 lifters at state and proceeded to post a sixth-place finish in the 220-pound weight class. She successfully completed a 330-pound squat, a 155-pound bench press and 305-pound deadlift. Her total of 790 pounds set a personal record.

“I surprised myself,” Cabrera said. “I didn’t know what I was doing, but with the training and the coaches helping me, somehow I made it to state.”

Now set to compete on the national stage Thursday in Nevada, Cabrera urges other girls and high school athletes to give powerlifting a shot. It’s taken her to new heights and opened doors that weren’t there before.

“You can do the unthinkable,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to try something new.”

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