The Gobbler Powerlifting Team closed out their regular season competitive meets at the Iron Titan Invitational, held on February 22atVictoriaEastHigh School. It was a meet that showcased the strength of both the Gobblers and their competitors.
The competition was tough with 17 teams vying for the gold medals and a possible trip to Regionals. Leading the charge for the Gobblers was Stran Gaitan, who put together an impressive day, finishing 5th in his weight class with a total lift of 905 pounds. Joining Gaitan in the top ten were several other standout lifters from the Gobbler squad. Connor Serece showcased his strength with a solid performance, securing 7th place in his weight class after a total lift of 1060 pounds. Close behind him was Tucker Schley, who placed 8th with an impressive 1055-pound total. Jace Patek rounded out a strong showing in the 165-pound class, finishing 9th with a total lift of 910 pounds, a personal best. In the 181-pound class, Connor Thigpen also made an impact, achieving a 6th place finish with a total of 1,184 pounds. These performances highlight the competitive spirit and hard work the Gobblers have put into their training this season. Coach Mike Bonewald stated “We not only did great things competing in our meets that I am proud of, but what I am most proud of is how our guys worked together to help each other all season. The season ending is always tough, but we have many good memories to look back on and since all of our lifters are underclassmen, we have next year to look forward to as well.”
As the Gobblers celebrate their achievements at the Invitational and await final standings, the Lady Gobblers are gearing up for Regionals. Seven talented female lifters have qualifi ed, which will be held on February 25 at Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg. This is an exciting milestone for the team, and they are eager to showcase their strength and skills. Qualifying Lady Gobblers include Shania Burden in the 105-pound equipped category, Jaide Jones will represent the team in the 132-pound unequipped category, Avalynn Rodriguez, competing in the 220-pound equipped division, Grace Becker in the 148-pound unequipped class, and Kirra Rushing in the 220-pound equipped category are all set to display their skills. Additionally, Larenn Elizalde is poised to compete in the 181-pound unequipped classification, while Sara Pedraza rounds out the group in the 242-pound equipped category. With so many lifters reaching this level of competition, the Lady Gobblers will undoubtedly leave their mark at regionals.
